The closure of Interstate 40 might extend for an entire year, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). Officials have tentatively set a reopening target for October 2025 for the section near the Tennessee border in western North Carolina.
The NCDOT has also issued a “Do Not Travel” advisory for this region. “All roads in Western North Carolina should be considered closed and non-emergency travel is prohibited,” stated NCDOT.
When asked about the impact of this advisory on essential freight deliveries, a representative from the NCDOT’s communications office explained, “We do not yet have an established detour for I-40,” while reiterating, “All roads in Western North Carolina are considered closed. You should delay your travels in that region.”
For those planning trips or checking on road statuses, the representative advised visiting DriveNC.gov, highlighting that users can “select a county or highway route to see a list of state-maintained roads that are closed due to Helene.” The site allows toggling to show only closures related to Helene. They also noted, “damage is so widespread in Western North Carolina, and there are power outages and cell phone service issues, that not all closed roads” have been updated on DriveNC.gov as of Monday, September 30.
Floodwaters from Hurricane Helene have washed out the eastbound lanes of I-40, leading to a closure of 43 miles in both directions between Exit 432 (US 25W/US 70/US 411) in Tennessee and Exit 20 (US 276) in North Carolina.
In addition to I-40, Interstate 26 is closed in Tennessee from mile marker 39 to the North Carolina state line.
Numerous U.S., state, and local roads are also closed in Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. Stay updated by checking both DriveNC and TDOT SmartWay for the latest traffic information in these states.
Source: Commercial Carrier Journal
