Motorists traveling between East Tennessee and North Carolina are facing significant detours after sections of Interstate 40 were washed out by catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene.
Mark Nagi, spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Transportation, told Knox News that crews are working to assess the damage and remove debris from roadways.
“The main focus is reconnecting severed communities. As water levels fall, we will possibly find more issues that we need to address in terms of road/bridge damage,” Nagi said Sept. 30. “We are also working to get roads/bridges open across the region as soon as possible, but it would be presumptive to have any sort of timeframe for reopening without having a more full account of the condition of our transportation system in the affected areas.”
In addition to the I-40 damage, the storm left 14 state bridges on state routes closed, and five of those are “completely gone,” TDOT Deputy Commissioner Will Reid said during a Sept. 29 news conference.
These are the bridges that have been washed away:
- Greene County: State routes 107, 350 and 351
- Unicoi County: Interstate 26 at mile marker 39.6
- Washington County: State 81 (Alfred Taylor Bridge)
The department planned to begin awarding contracts for repair projects this week, though the state still has hundreds of more bridges to inspect for damage.
With such a major route as I-40 closed at the state line for the foreseeable future, below are some alternate routes for motorists traveling between Tennessee and North Carolina. (Before you venture into North Carolina, however, note that state emergency officials there have warned people not to travel into the state, where at least 200 roads were closed as of this past weekend.)
Interstate 81
Interstate 81 offers a bypass to I-40. From Knoxville, travelers can head north on I-81, which connects with Interstate 26, providing an alternate route to Asheville and other areas in North Carolina.
Interstate 26
Connecting directly from I-81, I-26 offers another major corridor for travel between East Tennessee and the Carolinas. Motorists can use this route to travel south from I-81 toward Asheville, avoiding the closed sections of I-40. This highway remains fully operational and offers a detour that is well-equipped to handle additional traffic from diverted I-40 travelers.
Local alternatives: US Routes 11E and 25E
U.S. Route 11E runs parallel to I-40 for much of its distance and offers a scenic, slower alternative route through local towns and communities. It eventually connects to I-26.
U.S. Route 25E takes travelers from Knoxville northeast through Morristown, where it links up with Interstate 81.
How to keep up with road closures
The SmartWay website, smartway.tn.gov, is a resource for drivers to stay updated on road closures and traffic conditions following major weather events.
Angela Dennis is the Knox News race, justice and equity reporter. Email angela.dennis@knoxnews.com.
