Rockslide Closes Interstate 40 Near N.C.-Tenn. Border

A weekend rockslide has closed Interstate 40 in western North Carolina near the Tennessee state line, and officials said it could take several months to clear the debris, the Associated Press reported.

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 should follow the reverse directions, AP reported, citing state officials.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation issued an emergency declaration Sunday, and initial estimates from engineers were that it could take up to “several months” to clean up the entire slide and restore normal traffic, AP said.

DOT said a contractor is en route to begin the cleanup, AP reported. The rockslide occurred over the weekend near mile marker 3 in Haywood County, N.C. There were no reports of injuries.