Department of Transportation crews are on the scene of a rock slide on Interstate 40 in Cocke County, Tenn,. near the North Carolina-Tennessee state line.
Both westbound lanes are closed beginning in Haywood County, N.C., near mile marker 7.
The N.C. Highway Patrol and Department of Transportation tell the Asheville Citizen-Times that westbound traffic traveling to Tennessee should detour by taking I-240 West (exit 53B) off I-40 in Asheville to I-26 West (exit 4A). Follow I-26 West from Asheville to 1-81 South (exit 8A) in Tennessee back to I-40.
Drivers already heading west on I-40 should consider taking exit 451, and returning to Asheville on I-40 East, to take I-240 West (exit 53B) in Asheville and following the directions above.
Crews are on the scene to assess whether further slides can be expected at the site, as the first slide exposed a large bolder that appears to be at risk of becoming dislodged.
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