A familiar headache has returned for drivers on Interstate 40. Just months after reopening from a major landslide, a section of the highway near the Tennessee-North Carolina border is shut down again—this time thanks to a brutal mix of heavy rain, flooding, and more rock slides.
Flash Floods Sweep Through, Rock Crashes Down
Wednesday afternoon, several inches of rain fell fast and hard over the Smoky Mountains. That water had nowhere to go but down—and it brought rocks and mud with it. A section of I-40 near mile marker 450, already weakened by past damage, took the hit.
“The water was just pouring off the mountain,” said Mark Nagi with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). “We had a ton of debris come down. It’s not safe right now.”
The water even reached nearby homes, with at least one family reporting flooding in their basement. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported so far.
Crews Working to Assess and Stabilize the Area
TDOT engineers and geologists moved in quickly to figure out just how bad the damage is. The biggest concern right now? The hillside.
There’s still water draining off the slope, and officials say it could take up to two weeks just to get it dry and safe enough to begin full repairs. “We’re being extremely cautious,” said TDOT Chief Engineer Will Reid. “We don’t want to rush into something that could put people at risk.”
A Problem Spot That Just Won’t Quit
If this stretch of road sounds familiar, that’s because it’s been in the news before. Last fall, Hurricane Helene’s heavy rains caused a similar collapse here. Crews spent months patching it up, finally reopening a narrowed version of the highway in March.
But even then, it wasn’t back to normal. The road had just one lane in each direction, divided by a small concrete curb. And the ground underneath remained unstable.
TDOT had already planned major long-term work to secure the slope using steel rods, high-strength grout, and a kind of concrete spray called shotcrete. That work wasn’t finished before the latest disaster hit.
Major Detours in Place—And They’re Not Short
With both directions of I-40 closed in the area, travelers and truckers are being sent on a long detour. Eastbound traffic is being rerouted through Asheville via I‑26, then back onto I‑81 to rejoin I‑40. The same goes for westbound traffic coming from North Carolina.
Officials are warning drivers not to rely on GPS shortcuts through mountain backroads—especially US 441, which cuts through Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is off-limits to large trucks.
“It’s going to add time, no way around it,” said one Asheville commuter. “I just wish they’d find a way to fix that stretch once and for all.”
What Happens Next?
Crews are still cleaning up the mud and debris while keeping a close eye on the hillside. Once it’s dry, they’ll likely have to do more stabilization work before even thinking about reopening the highway.
Here’s the rough timeline:
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This week: Water drainage and debris cleanup
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Next two weeks: Slope inspections and emergency repairs
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Longer term: Reinforcement of the mountain face with bolts and concrete, possibly stretching into next year
TDOT says they’ll aim to open a limited number of lanes as soon as it’s safe. But full restoration? That could be many months away.
Locals Frustrated but Understanding
For people living in the area—or anyone planning a summer trip to Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge—this closure is more than just a traffic jam. It’s yet another reminder of how vulnerable this stretch of I‑40 is.
“We’ve gotten used to these closures,” said one local shop owner. “But every time, it costs us business. It’s frustrating.”
Still, most understand that safety comes first. And in a region where rain and rocks are always part of the landscape, this might just be the new normal.
Summary:
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A rock slide and flash flood shut down both directions of I‑40 near the TN-NC line on June 18.
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No injuries, but major travel disruptions and detours now in place.
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Crews expect at least a two-week delay before any part of the road can reopen.
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Full repairs could stretch well into 2026.
