Warning if you plan to be traveling on I-40 through the NC mountains to and from Tennessse. They are rebuilding a bridge and it snarls up traffic. It is at Harmon Den pretty close to the NC/TN state line. Right now you exit off the Interstate down the off ramp and straight across to the on ramp. There is nothing at the exit. It seems to be back up further if you are traveling west right now. You can see a couple of other bridges they plan to rebuild or replace along that route. As remote as it is and with winter slowing them down, this will probably be an ongoing issue for a while until all the bridges are done.
Thanks for the report. Is there an expectation when the project is supposed to be complete, or did you just find out about this unpleasantness the hard way?
Found out the hard way back in December & I’ve been through it 6 different times now, 3 times each direction. The longest delay was an hour on our westbound trip last week. It looks like what they are working will be on going at least til next winter. You can see another bridge they are already clearing some trees nearby to do that one. There I’m guessing they will have to build a new bridge next to the existing one. There is no exit at that one and no way to do a temporary one either. It will still slow things down. That canyon is the work of devil. There are always rock slides, tunnels closed, road washed out next to river or some other problem closing down a lane all the time You can bypass it by going I-81 to Johnson City, TN & I-26 to Asheville, NC but it adds an 1.5 hours to your trip from Knoxville to Asheville. If you are coming/going from Kentucky or further Noth you can go thru the Cumberland Gap Parkway/ US 25E and pick up I-81 to Johnson City to get on I-26 & go to/from Asheville. You’ll probably add 30-45 minutes versus going thru I-40. We did the Cumberland Gap part yesterday, but when got to I-81, the backup was only a few minutes so we came on down to I-40. if you are coming from west of Knoxville, you just have to take your medicine. And if you are going far enough south, you might see what going into Georgia would do for you, but then you bring Atlanta into the equation. With them replacing multiple bridges, this will probably take a few years. And once you are in Asheville, on I-26, they are widening the road for about 20 miles.
I was going to take that route a few months ago and people on another forum told me to skip it and go around. From what I hear it’s a long delay.
Another way is from Asheville to Newport TN. Through hot springs, I think that is why 70 / 25. It's a pretty drive. It takes a little longer. You pick up I 40 in Newport.
I was in my Class A at the time and wanted to say on interstates. Part of the reason I want to sell it. Teardrops are more my style.
