Tennessee DOT reopens I-40 ahead of two-week goal
By Lilly Knoepp
June 19, 2025 at 7:16 AM EDT
This post was updated Friday June 27 at 5 p.m.
A stretch of Interstate 40 near the North Carolina-Tennessee border is open again less than two week after multiple rock slides and flooding.
"I-40 is back open to one lane in each direction at the TN/NC state line, nine days after flooding/rockslide closed the roadway. Please use extreme caution as workers are still present, as Helene repairs continue in this area," Regional Communications Officer for the Tennessee Department of Transportation Matt Nagi posted on Twitter.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) said the June 18 damage to the interstate is “not as extensive” as what occurred during Hurricane Helene.
Crews cleared mud and debris between Exit 20 and the Tennessee state line, where the slides occurred.
Deputy Gov. and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley said on June 19 that four slides were reported, and all vehicles except one have been removed from the roadway. No injuries were reported.
“We’re going to respond as quickly as possible to get this back open,” Eley said. “We know how important this is to our region, to our economy here. We're going to continue to work every day until we get this open as quickly as possible.”
https://x.com/NCDOT_I40/status/1935484561435091410
TDOT Chief Engineer Will Reid said the slides were triggered by heavy rain.
“We have a goal of getting the interstate opened in the next two weeks,” Reid said.
I-40 has been reduced to one lane since Hurricane Helene in late September. He said the same detours used during that storm will be used again.
Reid also thanked the North Carolina Department of Transportation for helping retrieve vehicles and assisting with cleanup efforts on Wednesday.
This story was updated on June 27.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NC DOT) advised motorists to use caution in the area. NC DOT shared the following detours when the road was closed:
NC DOT shared how flooding looked on I-40 at 7:30 p.m. between Exit 20 and the Tennessee State Line. (3024x4032, AR: 0.75)
A stretch of Interstate 40 near the North Carolina-Tennessee border is open again less than two week after multiple rock slides and flooding.
"I-40 is back open to one lane in each direction at the TN/NC state line, nine days after flooding/rockslide closed the roadway. Please use extreme caution as workers are still present, as Helene repairs continue in this area," Regional Communications Officer for the Tennessee Department of Transportation Matt Nagi posted on Twitter.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) said the June 18 damage to the interstate is “not as extensive” as what occurred during Hurricane Helene.
Crews cleared mud and debris between Exit 20 and the Tennessee state line, where the slides occurred.
Deputy Gov. and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley said on June 19 that four slides were reported, and all vehicles except one have been removed from the roadway. No injuries were reported.
“We’re going to respond as quickly as possible to get this back open,” Eley said. “We know how important this is to our region, to our economy here. We're going to continue to work every day until we get this open as quickly as possible.”
https://x.com/NCDOT_I40/status/1935484561435091410
TDOT Chief Engineer Will Reid said the slides were triggered by heavy rain.
“We have a goal of getting the interstate opened in the next two weeks,” Reid said.
I-40 has been reduced to one lane since Hurricane Helene in late September. He said the same detours used during that storm will be used again.
Reid also thanked the North Carolina Department of Transportation for helping retrieve vehicles and assisting with cleanup efforts on Wednesday.
This story was updated on June 27.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NC DOT) advised motorists to use caution in the area. NC DOT shared the following detours when the road was closed:
- Take Exit 53B (I-240 West) and follow I-240 West for 5 miles to Exit 4A (I-26 West). Follow I-26 West 74 miles, crossing into Tennessee, to Exit 8A (I-81 South). Follow I-81 Southbound 57 miles to re-access I-40 at Mile Marker 421 in Tennessee.
- Traffic coming from Points East of Winston-Salem should take Exit 193-B (US-52 North) and follow US-52 North for 34 miles to Left Exit 140 (I-74 West). Follow I-74 West for 12 miles and keep right to take I-77 North toward Wytheville, VA. Follow I-77 North for 38 miles, crossing into Virginia, until merging with I-81 South at Fort Chiswell, Va. Continue on I-81 South for 156 miles, crossing into Tennessee, to re-access I-40 at Mile Marker 421 in Tennessee.
- Traffic coming from between Winston-Salem and Statesville should take Exit 152-B for I-77 North. Continue on I-77 North for 87 miles, crossing into Virginia, until merging with I-81 South at Fort Chiswell, Va. Continue on I-81 South for 156 miles, crossing into Tennessee, to re-access I-40 at Mile Marker 421 in Tennessee.
NC DOT shared how flooding looked on I-40 at 7:30 p.m. between Exit 20 and the Tennessee State Line. (3024x4032, AR: 0.75)