rv2go
Fulltime between Knoxville, TN and the coast.
Senior Member
Joined: 12/26/2000
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
|
Guys, better make changes to your route over I-40. Link
Winnebago Journey
TN Lic. RV 2 GO
1995 2dr. Hard Top Geo Tracker
www.rv2go.us
I'm here #4335
Travel Photos
|
craziecritter
Garner, N.C.
Senior Member
Joined: 06/05/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
 Offline
|
Wow our news station is reporting a 140 mile detour. What a mess this will be for months.
Clicky
Sharon, Tom with
Jack (Rat Terrier) and Benji (Yorkie) at our side
2000 Gulfstream Innsbruck 26' TT
1998 Ford F150 XLT Triton V8 with Extra Towing Package
Prodigy Brake
Suzie our Garmin Nuvi 650
|
coolbreeze01
Redding, Ca
Senior Member
Joined: 08/24/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
From the photos I don't see needing months to clean it up, but the Forrest Service could definitely slow things down.
Let us know how it goes.
2008 Dodge 3500 CTD LB SRW 4X4 6-Speed Auto
P3 Blue Ox Sway Pro
2007 Komfort 212
|
Handbasket
Asheville, NC
Senior Member
Joined: 01/17/2003
View Profile
|
The detour is to catch I-240W for a few miles in Asheville. This leads to I-26W which goes over the mountains into Tennessee, and intersects I-81S which goes back to I-40 a ways east of Knoxville. Unfortunately, this is in a spot where there is no practical short surface road detour.
It may or may not take months, but there's no telling how much more of the mountainside will come down as they remove debris. Also no way of telling how long it'll take to stabilize the mountainside above the roadway. I've heard that this was the most expensive road in the world per lane-mile when it was built in the 60's or 70's. A friend worked on it, and he has told some hair-raising tales.
Jim, "'So what job did you get in the company reorganization?' 'Organ donor.'"
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison ('Loafer's Glory'); '07 Forester 2.5 ( the 'HANDBSKT'); '95 Toyota SR5 V-6 4x4 pickup, ARB locker, Bilsteins, Warn hubs & M8000, etc;
'94 968, M030 swaybars ('DOPPLER')
|
NC Hauler
Asheville NC
Senior Member
Joined: 05/20/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
The WLOS(Asheville NC) 6:00 news stated it could take up to three months to clean up the mess. Some piles of rocks laying across the road for 150', some as large as small houses. At this time I40 is blocked in both directions. You can only go West on I 40 as far as exit 20, which is the Maggie Valley exit. As information is posted about the clean-up, I or others will keep those that are interested in this information posted.
Forest Service may have a little to do with clean up, but it's a NCDOT problem first and foremost. I just saw the video of the rock slide, didn't look like an easy clean up to me...it's more extensive than the one in 97' which shut I40 down for an extended length of time also. It's a very mountainous, rocky area and we've had a lot of rain lately...thank goodness no one was injured, it could have easily seriously injured or killed someone if they'd been in the area when the slide occured.
..........and I'm headed to Sevierville TN on Nov. 21st for a week..guess I may have to re-route my trip.......
Jim & Kathy
07.5 Chevy K3500DRW/CC/LB/LMM/D/A/6speed/ LTZ,Prodigy,Reese 20K Ht.
08 Jeep Liberty Sport Trail Rated
06 HR Presidential Suite 37RLQ 4 slide,
Boxers;Buddy& Sheba II
USAF 71-75 Nam Vet
|
|
|
Handbasket
Asheville, NC
Senior Member
Joined: 01/17/2003
View Profile
|
A little updating.... There is one somewhat shorter detour... Once on I-26W, on the north side of Weaverville take US 25-70 to Hot Springs and over to Newport, TN, where you can rejoin I-40. Problem is that much of this is 2-lane mountain road, considerably less easy driving than I-26 & 81.
The WLOS 6 PM news showed the slide in more detail, and it's a big 'un. It is indeed going to take months to clear. There was a similar slide in '97 that closed 40 in the same general area. It took 5 months to clear.... and it was more dirt and less rock than this.
BTW, this routing of I-40 thru Pigeon River Gorge was strictly a political decision, not an engineering one. The regional powers-that-were dictated it, AIUI, for their own economic reasons (and gain), and contrary to sound engineering advice. It's been troublesome since it was built, and is IMO one of the worst stretches of I-40 anywhere.
Jim, "Liberal arts major.... will think for money."
|
NC Hauler
Asheville NC
Senior Member
Joined: 05/20/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Have you driven 25/70 from Hot Springs to Newport?? I tow a 39' 5er with a dually...I've driven 25/70 from Hot Springs to Newport and no way would I want to be towing a large TT or 5er over that road. It is narrow curvy mountainous road with some hairpin turns in the road. Might be fine if your not towing any significant length, but I wouldn't want to tow it...
I agree with Jim on his assessement of I40 through the gorge..a pile of the road was taken out during a flood also....It's just a very scenic route which seems to attract a lot of tourist traveling from and into Western NC and Eastern TN, (it's the Smokies)...
|
ronhbar
Matthews (Charlotte), NC
Senior Member
Joined: 10/07/2001
View Profile
|
In addition to the good information regarding routes suitable for large RV's, I would also appreciate is locals can find better detours for cars. I've got to drive this a couple of times by car. It looks like there is a road a little south that goes through - US19 to US441. Anyone have thoughts about this?
Ron
2002 HR Endeavor 40DST
|
NC Hauler
Asheville NC
Senior Member
Joined: 05/20/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
ronhbar wrote:In addition to the good information regarding routes suitable for large RV's, I would also appreciate is locals can find better detours for cars. I've got to drive this a couple of times by car. It looks like there is a road a little south that goes through - US19 to US441. Anyone have thoughts about this?
This route will take you into Maggie Valley and you'll end up in Gatlinburg, the mountains that you go over from Maggie Valley to Gatlinburg aren't as bad as the one you would travel from Hot Springs to Newport, though I wouldn't want to tow a large TT or 5er from Maggie Valley to Gatlinburg going this way either, but in a car, it would be ok. You could actually take I40 to exit 20 (Waynesville, Maggie Valley), as of right now, you can drive that far on I 40...the route you speak of would eventually lead back to I40, (via 321, 441 and or 66 through Sevierville),just look at the exit numbers to see which way would best work for you.
|
ronhbar
Matthews (Charlotte), NC
Senior Member
Joined: 10/07/2001
View Profile
|
Thanks NC Hauler
|
|
|
