Will HofmannAsheville Citizen Times
Lifted above the Pigeon River in Haywood County, contractors spray a gray-ish concrete along the washed-out lanes of Interstate 40, as they make headway on repairing and reopening the interstate that suffered catastrophic damage when Tropical Storm Helene hit Western North Carolina on Sept. 27.
A video released by the North Carolina Department of Transportation shows contractors working on installing soil nails into the side of the lanes that support thousands of travelers a day. The process essentially "pins" the washed-out slopes to the side of the westbound lanes. The contract to install the steel nails was awardedat $8.5 million.
"We’re hoping to hit our lofty target date," NCDOT spokesperson David Uchiyama told the Citizen Times Dec. 18. The department announced that it anticipated the road reopening by New Year's Day on Nov. 5.
The stretch of I-40 will remain closed through the holiday season. NCDOT is suggesting that drivers take I-26 to I-81 to travel to Tennessee. Oversized vehicles must take I-77 to I-81 to travel through the region, Uchiyama said. For those who are traveling to Southern Tennessee, Georgia or Alabama, NCDOT suggests motorists take U.S. Route 74 West.
When the road reopens along the Pigeon River Gorge, the stretch of I-40 will be reduced to two lanes of traffic and a lower speed limit of 40 miles per hour.
"Drivers should anticipate additional holiday traffic across western North Carolina," Uchiyama said. Drivers are encouraged to travel during off hours of travel and plan ahead of their trip.
As a second period of holiday travel approaches, here's what to know about travel across WNC.
Why is I-40 closed near North Carolina-Tennessee border?
Along I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge in Haywood County, nine sections of the road spread over four-and-a-half miles saw fill failures, meaning they collapsed into the river. NCDOT, along with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, is working to stabilize these sections of the road for reopening.
Video: I-40 damage after Tropical Storm Helene in Western North Carolina
Aerial video shows damage and beginning of repairs of Interstate 40 along the Pigeon River in Western North Carolina.
Are roads still impacted by Helene?
Roads across the region are still impacted by Helene, with some repairs estimated to cost up to $500 million. As of Dec. 18, NCDOT estimates that 187 roads still remain closed from the storm and that 75 have only partial access, according to the NCDOT Helene road reopening portal.
How do you monitor traffic? Helene road closures?
To track road closures, NCDOT provides two primary websites:
- Ondrivenc.gov, motorists can view all major road closures or major incidents that have closed roads.
- For more specific information about closures caused by Tropical Storm Helene, NCDOT provides a map of the region, which is updated daily. The map can be accessed on the NCDOT website or athttp://bit.ly/411XKOP.
Is I-26 open in Eastern Tennessee?
While I-26 had initially been closed by Helene in Unicoi County, Tennessee, the road reopened with one lane in eachdirection on Oct. 30. While standard commercial traffic is allowed along this stretch of highway, the road is not able to accommodate commercial traffic wider than 12 feet, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
'Holiday Booze It & Lose It' campaign
The North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program are partnering with local and state law enforcement to emphasize that drivers who have consumed impairing substances should not get behind the wheel during the holidays, according to a Dec. 16 NCDOT news release.
A total of 12,146 vehicle crashes involved an impaired driver in North Carolina in 2023, according to NCDOT. Of those crashes, 394 resulted in fatalities. From Dec. 16 to Jan. 5, law enforcement agencies will be increasing the number of patrols and sobriety checkpoints in all 100 counties in Western North Carolina.
“Driving under the influence is deadly and illegal, and it should never be an option for getting home,” said GHSP Director Mark Ezzell in the news release. “We want everyone to enjoy the joy-filled holiday season, but we want everyone to do so responsibly. There are many available choices for a safe ride home; impaired driving is never the answer.”
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Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com. Consider supporting this type of journalism with asubscriptionto the Citizen Times.