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As of yesterday (23 February 2010), the NCDOT is now estimating "late April" as the reopening timeframe for I-40 on the western edge of NC. They cite the heavy snows, rains, and extended subfreezing temps as reasons for the work going more slowly than at first anticipated.
Foy
When it rains, it pours........
US-64/74 is closed by a rockslide about halfway between Cleveland TN and the TN/NC state line till the end of March. This shuts off a decent detour.
I have printed him maps from Newburgh, IN to Newport, Tn, and from Newport onto Charlotte, NC. It takes him on I40 to exit415 merging onto US25W S/US 70 coming into Newport and then US 25/US321/US 70 onto Asheville US 19/US23 to I240 to I40E toward Statesville and on. Is this a good route or him? He 20 and drives a Ford Crown Vic. Hes been to Charlotte before and knows how to get to Knoxville and knows his way from Asheville . It''s the detour replacing the Knoxville to Asheville route Ive given him that Im not sure about. Any help would be great. Time is not a factor in the trip as much as distance is. He doesn't mind stoppng to smell the roses so to speak.
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By the time you try to detour around the I-40 rock slide, bypass the US-64 slide and avoid the 'goat trail' section of US-25, you would be left with something as convoluted as what you describe. While it would probably work, you might want to look at a slightly simpler solution, which although it's longer is still all Interstate. That would be to just head east on I-64 to Charleston, WV and then south on I-77 to Charlotte. At about 625 miles it could conceivably be done a day of steady driving with a good early start, especially if he's got a warm welcome waiting for him.
AZBuck
If he really wants to go through Knoxville and Asheville, take the official detour - I-81 to I-26 - unless he wants to drive on narrow 2 lane mountain roads and take the route you plotted. I wouldn't advise it after dark.
I like Buck's suggestion. Note that I-77 is a toll road in WV. Also note that it's what my mapping program suggests now, with road construction data updated. It's only 30 miles longer than I-40 would be if it were open.
ambeth22,
I couldn't agree more with AZ Buck and glc. Either the stated detour up to Johnson City, TN thence down I-26 or the I-64 to I-77 route are far preferable to your contemplated route. Of the two, I would personally favor the stated detour route as it stays at lower elevation and avoids the tolls in WV.
Foy
From a distance and time standpoint, 64/77 is considerably shorter considering your start and stop points.
Was wondering what you think would be the best route to go from Ooltewah (chattanooga) TN to Greenville NC. Google maps says I74 E from cleveland TN to Asheville NC, rejoining with I40 E there and continuing on normally. But if it's true about a rock slide on 74, that detour would not work; this true? Was thinking about 81N into Virginia then south on I77/74 to winston-salem NC and continuing on I40 E from there. Google says that's the next quickest I believe. Or should I stick to the official 81/26 detour?
That's what my mapping program suggests right now, and it has the latest construction/closure updates. 570 miles, and this is a full day's drive, figure about 12 hours with normal stops. It's about the same distance and time as I-40 all the way would be if it were open.Quote:
Was thinking about 81N into Virginia then south on I77/74 to winston-salem NC and continuing on I40 E from there.
You probably want to try and avoid Raleigh and the whole Research Triangle Park area during rush hour (4-7pm or so) if you possibly can. Plus, consider the I-540 bypass around the north side of Raleigh, connecting to US 64-264 bypass east of Raleigh, just a few miles before they divide at Zebulon and US 264 then provides open road and 70 mph speed limits most of the balance of the trip.Quote:
Originally Posted by sedman
Foy