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The remnants of Hurricane Helene closed hundreds of roads in Western North Carolina. Slowly, however certainly, many are being cleared and reopened. Others are going to take lots longer to reopen.
North Carolina Division of Transportation has labored tirelessly over the previous week to clear roads in weather-ravaged Western North Carolina the place greater than 200 roads have been closed after downed powerlines and bushes made some areas impassable, whereas different roads crumbled away into the rivers they have been constructed alongside of. One of many main impacted routes? Interstate 40 at the North Carolina and Tennessee border.
A 43-mile stretch at I-40 will stay closed indefinitely till NCDOT and the Tennessee Division of Transportation can decide what must be executed to rebuild the street that was swallowed by the Pigeon River.
“I-40 is closed in each instructions [43 miles], between Exit 432 (US 25W/US 70/US 411) in Tennessee and Exit 20 (US 276) in North Carolina,” learn the newest alert on Monday from NCDOT.
Together with I-40, Interstate 26 remains to be closed on the North Carolina and Tennessee border as properly and shall be for the foreseeable future.
When will roads reopen in Western North Carolina?
Greater than 1,600 division of transportation staff and contract crews from across the state have been deployed to the world with instruments and provides to assist clear roads of particles and restore others the place doable.
NCDOT has crews out over the weekend to proceed to evaluate infrastructure harm in areas throughout Western North Carolina. Whereas a lot work nonetheless stays forward for employees as they proceed to clear particles, the “don’t journey” warning that after was emboldened on the present street closure map has modified to “important journey solely.”
Progress in clearing essential roads continues this week, nevertheless it could possibly be months earlier than all wanted clearing and repairs are executed, reports NCDOT.
Alternate routes round I-40 closure
Whereas the most important thoroughfare is closed for the foreseeable future, there are methods round it.
Interstate 81 gives a bypass to I-40. These within the Northwest part of Western North Carolina, can search for a secure path to I-81 into Tennessee which connects with Interstate 77, offering an alternate path to different areas in North Carolina.
These within the Southwest a part of the state can nonetheless journey on a part of Interstate 26, however sections of the street could also be closed. Folks can even hunt down secure routes to Interstate 85 after which head northbound to the Charlotte space.
These south of Hendersonville can take U.S. 74 ALT to U.S. 74 East towards Shelby after which join with I-85 to Charlotte and different factors North and East.
U.S. 64 to U.S. 74 ALT simply north of Hendersonville is impassable presently as a consequence of landslides. The street can be impassable between U.S. 74 ALT and Slick Rock Highway, in accordance with NCDOT.
Present N.C. DOT Highway closure map
There could also be closed roads not listed on DriveNC.gov as many areas aren’t capable of report presently, in accordance with NCDOT.
You’ll be able to observe street closures at drivenc.gov.
What route can vans over 30 ft take?
NCDOT has a route in place for bigger vans to navigate the closures at I-40 and Interstate 26. The division warns not use Google Maps, Waze or Apple Maps within the affected space. These apps are giving routes that vans are getting caught on.
Data on routes that can be utilized, could be discovered at NCDOT.gov/tims.
This text initially appeared on Asheville Citizen Occasions: Road closure map Wester NC: Latest updates for the Asheville area
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