NEWPORT, Tenn. (WVLT/WOKI) – For the fourth time in the last week, Governor Bill Lee surveyed storm damage in East Tennessee.
On Monday afternoon, it was I-40 in Cocke County that Gov. Lee and fellow state leaders went to as they observed some of the areas of the interstate that were washed away from the storm.
The part of the interstate impacted directly impacts people from East Tennessee trying to travel toward Asheville, North Carolina.
“The repairs that have to be made on the North Carolina side of I-40 will have to be delivered through Tennessee and through an I-40 stretch that runs through our state. So, there’s a tremendous need for those roads to be repaired,” said Gov. Lee.
Lee said that a portion of I-40 will be temporarily opened by the end of next week as crews utilize the other side of the interstate to have traffic flowing one lane in each direction.
A long-term solution for the road being rebuilt entirely is still not clear at this time.
“What we have to do right now is accelerate everything we can, certainly before the next big storm comes through,” said Sen. Bill Hagerty.
Part of I-26 also washed away in Erwin, but a portion of that interstate will open again on Tuesday. It will be from the North Carolina state line to Exit 40 but only local traffic will be allowed.
Most people will have to continue using the detour from I-81 North to I-77 South.
Story courtesy of our news partner WVLT
