TDOT Announces Plan To Open I-26

Some good news regarding transportation, and this involves I-26 in Unicoi County. On Thursday, TDOT opened a small section of I-26 to local traffic only. This section is from MM 37 where the interstate, where the road had been closed, to exit 40. This is for local traffic and for those helping in recovery efforts only. Law enforcment is on hand to enforce the restrictions against commercial vehicles.

However, TDOT says they are planning to restore one lane of traffic in each direction on I-26 in the next 30 to 45 days. That will reestablish I-26 from Tennessee to North Carolina. Right now the only way to get to western North Carolina from East Tennessee is to take I-81 north to Wytheville, VA where you catch I-77 south. Newfound Gap Road is open to traffic through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park between Gatlinburg and Cherokee, NC. That route though is off limits to commercial vehicles.

Once you get into North Carolina, you have to navigate your way around as many roads are still closed in western North Carolina and many areas are still restricted to essential traffic only.