‘Do not travel to Western NC’: I-40 is impassable in several locations, I-26 is closed at the Tennessee state line

NORTH CAROLINA ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — It’s been a few days since Helene blew through, and the shell shock of the storm’s widespread devastation in Western North Carolina remains overwhelming. The onslaught of 10 to 30 inches of rain has turned neighborhoods into lakes and debris fields. Dozens of people are still missing across the state.

For those not too adversely affected by the storm, the electronic overhead highway signs told the story: consider all roads in Western North Carolina closed.

And that warning, issued by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, remains in effect for non-emergency purposes and unnecessary travel.

Due to major washouts, in certain areas, be advised: you can’t get there from here . If you need to drive somewhere in Western North Carolina, brace yourself…the means to get there may no longer exist. Hundreds of roads have been shut down including dozens of U.S. and North Carolina highways in the foothills and mountains.

Parts of Interstate 40 from Statesville to the Tennessee line are closed, and impassable due to landslides and downed trees.

“People have asked ‘Is there a way to get from here to here or out of here to here?’ We can’t tell you a route that we feel is safe or isn’t compromised in some way or may lead you to another blocked road, so for all intents and purposes, travel in Western NC should be out of the question for now ,” Jennifer Goodwin with NCDOT Communications said Monday.

Goodwin said priority must be given to all emergency responders, utility and transportation crews, and others who are working hard to help with what will be a lengthy response and recovery effort.

Although rescue efforts are ongoing, they are facing unprecedented challenges. Entire towns wiped out. Concrete bridges washed away. No way in or out of certain areas. Drones and aircraft are evaluating the damage in areas inaccessible by road.

North Carolina Department of Transportation crews are working day and night to assess the widespread damage to roads and will prioritize efforts to reopen interstates, U.S., and state highways first before getting to state-maintained secondary roads.

People evacuating the Asheville area can use I-40 east or I-26 east, NCDOT said.

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