news-record.com

RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Transportation will reopen I-40 West from Exit 20 to the Tennessee state line to traffic on Sunday between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.

The road has been closed since Jan. 31 when a rock slide occurred at mile marker 451 in Cocke County, Tenn. A second rock slide Friday dropped 600 tons of rock, with some boulders as large as small cars, on the North Carolina side.

The state transportation departments for North Carolina and Tennessee worked together reopen the road, DOT said in a prepared statement.

Traffic should flow normally on I-40 West through North Carolina, DOT said. However, motorists crossing into Tennessee will see the road narrow down to one lane at the site of the original rock slide. Officials urged motorists to drive slowly and use caution while traveling through the area.

Motorists can access real-time travel information for I-40 West in North Carolina at any time by calling 511, visiting www.ncdot.gov/travel, accessing NCDOT’s mobile website by typing “m.ncdot.gov” into the browser of their smartphones or following NCDOT on Twitter at www.ncdot.gov/travel/twitter.