In Waynesville, North Carolina, the long-awaited reopening of a section of Interstate 40 is set to happen this weekend, marking months after the severe flooding caused by Hurricane Helene led to significant damage in the western North Carolina mountains. This marks a partial reconnection of this crucial travel artery between North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has announced that the affected 20-mile (32-kilometer) stretch at the state’s border will be available to drivers starting Saturday.
Back in late September, intense flooding in the Pigeon River gorge severely eroded over a mile (1.6 kilometers) of the eastbound lanes of I-40 in Haywood County. Even though this interstate is typically a four-lane road, drivers can expect restrictions upon reopening, with lanes narrowed to one in each direction for the time being and speed limits set at a cautious 35 mph (56 kph). A concrete barrier will divide oncoming traffic, and emergency vehicles will have designated points to access the road when necessary.
Gov. Josh Stein had projected a reopening timeline with expectations for activity to begin by March 1. This reopening promises to significantly ease the flow of transportation between North Carolina and Tennessee, as well as various other regions linked via this thoroughfare. Despite the progress, regional DOT engineer Wanda Payne has cautioned travelers to anticipate potential delays, especially around holiday weekends as well as late-week traffic peaks, and she advises consideration of alternative interstate routes.
Despite a portion of I-40 reopening months ago on the Tennessee side, processed areas, mainly through one-lane operations, are being coordinated between the states until full restoration is accomplished. Though hopes were initially to have traffic flowing back in January, this plan was postponed when further deterioration occurred in December, with more of the eastward lanes giving way. Crews have since been laboring on a temporary fix by securing the road’s remnants with steel rods drilled into bedrock and overlaid with concrete.
Efforts for a permanent reconstruction have already sparked a contract agreement, with projections outlined by North Carolina’s Transportation Secretary, Joey Hopkins. Lawmakers were informed that complete restoration to the original four lanes is anticipated by late 2026, assuming material sourcing can be secured locally from Pisgah National Forest. If not, procuring stone from Tennessee could extend the timeline by an additional two to three years, with associated logistical challenges in transport.
