Update: I-40 in western N.C. to reopen Monday
NEWPORT, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee transportation officials say work to clear a rock and mud slide along Interstate 40 near the North Carolina border is set to begin.
Department of Transportation spokeswoman B.J. Doughty said today that a contract has been awarded, and work was expected to begin later in the day.
Officials anticipate reopening the westbound lanes Monday, she said. Eastbound travel is not affected.
Phillips & Jordan of Knoxville was awarded $59,000 to break up and remove rocks that slid into the westbound emergency stopping lane of the highway on Tuesday. All traffic headed west was detoured because an overhanging rock was in a precarious position.
Doughty described it as a car-size rock holding up a house-size boulder.
Westbound commercial traffic is taking a 55-mile detour over interstates 26 and 81.
Accompanying Photos
Photo Caption: A mud and rock slide has blocked the westbound lanes of Interstate 40 near Newport, Tenn.
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