Rock Slide

[Lorrie Henson]

For all my traveling friends....

RALEIGH, N.C. (Oct. 25) — A rockslide in western North Carolina near the Tennessee state line has closed Interstate 40, and officials say it could take several months to clear the debris. The state Department of Transportation on Sunday issued an emergency declaration. Initial estimates from engineers are that it could take several months to clean up the entire slide and restore traffic.

The rockslide occurred shortly after 2 a.m. near mile marker 3 in Haywood County. The debris pile is 100 feet long and 50 feet wide, reported WBIR-TV in Knoxville, Tenn.

A detour has been set up. Motorists traveling west to Tennessee should take I-40 West to I-240 West in Asheville to I-26 West. Follow I-26 West from Asheville to I-81 South in Tennessee, back to I-40. Eastbound motorists will follow the reverse directions.