Interstate Repairs Estimate Changed

The repairs to Interstate 40 in Cocke County are still ongoing and according to the latest estimate, will be for quite a while. TDOT had initially stated that they could have I-40 back open in full by the end of the summer in 2026. That estimate has now been changed. Mark Nagi with TDOT says that it will be the fall of 2027 before we are going to see the interstate back open in full. That’s on the Tennessee side. Repairs in Haywood County NC are expected to take much longer. NCDOT says they do not expect to have I-40 back open in full between the state line and exit 7 any sooner than the end of 2028.

Parts of the interstate were completely washed away by flood waters in September of 2024. I-40 remains open with one lane in each direction form MM446 in Cocke County to MM7 in Haywood County.