Tony
12-04-2009, 09:55 AM
If you didn't already know, the I-40 cut between Knoxville, TN and Asheville, NC is CLOSED. The alternate route is I-40 thru to I-81 North to I-26 East down into Asheville, NC.
There was a rockslide at the end of October that took out both sides of the highway. The cleanup is NOT whats taking so long, although some of the rocks were the size of your average family home. The issue is shoring up the wall to reduce the likelihood of it happening again. Every time they try to take pieces of the cracked rock face off, more is found to be cracked. The estimate for re-opening is sometime mid-2010 or even later. Speculations have even been mid-2011.
Be aware that I-26 is not the greatest of roads regarding out weight carrying and truck horsepower. There is a section(both ways obviously) that seem to be a single long mountian. Approximately 7 miles you will see a 6-7% grade continuously. I know its not a big deal for you western boys as you see it all the time. But us midwest guys don't see climbs or decents like that too often and we're used to shorter doses of it. this climb for a midwest truck is a monster especially when we pack vehicles on for a near-flatland run.
You've been warned. I-40 is closed both directions... find another way home pizzaboy! I-81 to I-26 or the flip of that heading back
There was a rockslide at the end of October that took out both sides of the highway. The cleanup is NOT whats taking so long, although some of the rocks were the size of your average family home. The issue is shoring up the wall to reduce the likelihood of it happening again. Every time they try to take pieces of the cracked rock face off, more is found to be cracked. The estimate for re-opening is sometime mid-2010 or even later. Speculations have even been mid-2011.
Be aware that I-26 is not the greatest of roads regarding out weight carrying and truck horsepower. There is a section(both ways obviously) that seem to be a single long mountian. Approximately 7 miles you will see a 6-7% grade continuously. I know its not a big deal for you western boys as you see it all the time. But us midwest guys don't see climbs or decents like that too often and we're used to shorter doses of it. this climb for a midwest truck is a monster especially when we pack vehicles on for a near-flatland run.
You've been warned. I-40 is closed both directions... find another way home pizzaboy! I-81 to I-26 or the flip of that heading back