Hundreds of trucks are moving in and out of Western North Carolina, hauling debris away from a rockslide. A massive explosion Friday should give officials a better idea on their progress.
On Wednesday 265 trucks hauled rock and debris off of I-40, three miles from the North Carolina / Tennessee line. A similar number of trucks did the same thing Thursday.
On Friday, the upper part of the rock slide will be blasted bringing more rocks down onto the interstate.
Crews have been working seven days a week for the past couple of weeks and they could continue the same truck-by-truck clean up for the next couple of months.
“The main thing is to make it safe for the traveling public and at this time, it's a hard call to make. It's a day-by-day week-by-week thing,” says Michael Patton of NCDOT.
NCDOT officials have decided to continue to work on Thanksgiving Day.
I-40 Detours
The detour route is 53 miles longer and is an additional 45 minutes to an hour driving time.
Motorists traveling on I-40 West should take Exit 53B (I-240 West) in Asheville and follow I-240 West to Exit 4A (I-26 West).
Follow I-26 West (a North Carolina Scenic Highway) to I-81 South in Tennessee. Take I-81 South and follow it back to I-40 at mile marker 421.
Eastbound motorists should use the reverse directions.
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