I-40 at NC/TN line closed Rock Slide in Smoky Mountains

[Foy]

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

[glc]

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.

[ambeth22]

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.

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

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

[glc]

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.

[Foy]

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

[glc]

From a distance and time standpoint, 64/77 is considerably shorter considering your start and stop points.

[sedman]

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?

[glc]

Was thinking about 81N into Virginia then south on I77/74 to winston-salem NC and continuing on I40 E from there.

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.

[Foy]

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?

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.

Foy