Asheville – I-26 was once again drivable, and work on I-40 west of Asheville was not interfering with traffic at all. However, on June 18, approximately three inches of rainfall in just a few hours caused a rockslide on I-40, just west of the North Carolina state line. This incident occurred along the same 12-mile stretch of road that had been devastated by the rapid floodwaters of the Pigeon River, which were stirred up by Hurricane Helene. This stretch had remained closed for six months before a single lane in each direction could reopen. Stabilization of the slopes above and below the highway is expected to take years. Currently, the highway is closed again in both directions until at least July 4.
The official detour now directs drivers on I-40 in Asheville up I-26 to Johnson City and then back to I-40 via I-81. This detour adds anywhere from 50 to 100 miles to a trip to Knoxville, depending on how much backtracking on I-40 is necessary. While taking winding, sloping mountain roads can reduce travel time, the official route considers factors such as the ban on commercial truck travel through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which was imposed after too many trucks became stuck attempting the route.
In simpler terms, people trying to visit or leave Weaverville have been and will continue to see solid red lines in their navigation apps. The area was waterlogged, necessitating drainage and possibly foundational reconstruction. Geotechnical engineers are currently assessing damages and developing a scope of work…