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Published: 2012-01-31 10:02:00
Updated: 2012-01-31 10:13:13

Posted: January 31, 2012

Tennessee rock slide closes I-40 near Asheville

Rock slide closes I-40 in Haywood

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Rock slide closes I-40 in Haywood
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Asheville, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Transportation closed westbound Interstate 40 in Haywood County on Tuesday morning following a rock slide in Tennessee.

The interstate is expected to be closed for at least two weeks as crews clear the debris from the roadway and stabilize other rocks to prevent similar slides.

Westbound drivers need to take the following detour: Exit at westbound Interstate 240 (Exit 53B) in Asheville and head to Interstate 26 West (Exit 4A). Then, follow I-26 to Interstate 81 South (Exit 8A) in Tennessee and back to I-40.

Eastbound traffic isn't affected by the rock slide.

A rock slide west of Asheville in late 2009 closed I-40 for about six months.

Copyright 2012 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

69 Comments


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Latest Comments
Maybe the DOT should create some type of crossovers in the area prone to rockslides that would allow them to use one lane for each direction after the slides occur.
flyguync
January 31, 2012 5:59 p.m.
"Ok Tea Baggers how are you going to blame this on Obama and Perdue? ghimmy51"

I already did that to save them the trouble:)
Click to view my profile fayncmike
January 31, 2012 5:27 p.m.
If you are traveling to and from Tenn and you live east of Statesville, you are crazy to travel 40 west through the gorge. Take 52 north in Winston Salem to 77 north, to 81 south in Wytheville VA. Follow 81 South into Tenn. Merge on to 40 west in Tenn. I drive this route all the time. It is 10 miles longer, however the speed limit is mostly 65 or 70 and no gorge! Driving to Ashville and then up 26 will add 40 miles to the trip.
Freda93
January 31, 2012 4:55 p.m.
Quote from fkhaywood: "I can rememmer back in the early 1060's when the the only route trhough the mountains was US 70 throught Black Mountain."

I can remember back in the 1060's before the Normans conquered the Saxons.
Click to view my profile Pseudonym
January 31, 2012 4:54 p.m.
Quote from bhappy: "Please read a book on geography and geology."

Not to go out on a tangent, but all you need to do is read the detour sines. They rock!!

Also, never cosine a loan. But that's personal finance class.
Click to view my profile Pseudonym
January 31, 2012 4:52 p.m.
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