The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has initiated reconstruction on a stretch of I-40 in Cocke County following severe damage caused by flooding from Hurricane Helene. According to WATE, the eastbound shoulder between mile marker 447 at Hartford Road and the Tennessee-North Carolina line is undergoing repairs. TDOT spokesperson Mark Nagi informed that both directions of I-40 are currently closed from mile marker 440 in Tennessee to mile marker 3 in North Carolina.
Amid the ongoing repairs, Governor Bill Lee visited the damaged site to assess the extent of devastation left in wake of the storm. TDOT has set a provisional target to reopen the interstate temporarily by the end of the next week, allowing traffic to flow one lane in each direction. In his statement, Gov. Lee mentioned that the roadway will be temporarily accessible, utilizing the opposite side for traffic management. This information was corroborated by WVLT, highlighting a short-term fix with a long-term reconstruction strategy still under consideration.
Mark Nagi of TDOT, as noted in a public post on X, reaffirmed the dire state of the I-40's eastbound shoulder and the commencement of rebuilding efforts. The reconstruction is part of a broader initiative to restore infrastructure battered by the recent hurricane, which wrought significant damage on roadways in the region.
Video: The rebuilding of I-40 in Cocke County is underway. Due to Helene flooding, the eastbound shoulder was severely damaged in multiple locations between MM 447 (Hartford Road) and the TN/NC state line. pic.twitter.com/Ur0AEeCMnO
— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagiTDOT) October 11, 2024
Alternative routes have been recommended for travelers impacted by the closures. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) advises using I-77 North to I-81 South for detouring around the affected sections on I-40 and I-26. Additionally, TDOT has started rebuilding the SR-107 bridge in Greene County and the SR-81 bridge in Washington County, with a goal of reopening both bridges to traffic by June 2025, further underscoring the extensive nature of the repair efforts necessitated by the natural disaster.
