TDOT Announces Big News For Section of I-26 Damaged By Flood

Work is continuing on Interstate 26 in Unicoi County. The Tennessee Department of Transportation says one lane of the interstate is open in either direction between mile markers 39 and 40 in Erwin. Traffic has been utilizing the eastbound lanes of the interstate while construction has continued. This afternoon, TDOT says there will be a big change in the traffic pattern as one lane will now open on the westbound side. TDOT says the outside lanes on both the eastbound and westbound sides will handle traffic while the inside lanes continue to have further work done to finish up the reconstruction of I-26 after parts of the interstate were destroyed by the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene.

TDOT says they expect I-26 repairs to be completed by September 15…weather permitting. That would mean getting the interstate back to normal in less than a year after the September 27 flood. This will help wide loads moving through East Tennessee, as I-40 is closed to wide loads due to being down to one lane in each direction from MM 447 to MM7 in North Carolina. Wide loads are currently having to take I-81 to I-77 in Virginia.