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3mo ago

Landslide and Flooding Shut Interstate 40 Near Tennessee-North Carolina Border

Cleanup of the site will span several weeks with costs estimated at $500,000

Tennessee Department of Transportation officials said the closure on I-40 is the same area that was damaged during Hurricane Helene in late September, but the rockslide's damage "is not as extensive." Officials said it could take at least two weeks to clear and repair the road after the rockslide. (MARK NAGI/TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION)
Interstate 40 closure after storms on June 19, 2025

Overview

  • The landslide and flash flooding on June 18 dumped between 2 and 3 inches of rain near Mile Marker 450 in Cocke County, Tennessee, triggering debris flows across both lanes of I-40.
  • I-40 remains closed in both directions near the Tennessee-North Carolina state line as crews clear mud and rock from the highway.
  • Geotechnical engineers are evaluating slope stability to inform long-term stabilization measures.
  • The affected stretch is part of a 12-mile corridor that was heavily damaged by flooding during Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
  • State transportation departments have established detours using Interstate 81, Interstate 26 and U.S. 441 to reroute traffic around the closure.