I-40 NC

There is a lower speed limit through the gorge, but how would you know how it’s loaded if it’s pre sealed? Do what you have to do to stay safe and within the law.

 

Don't ever worry about going too slow. Nice to be courteous and pull over when you can.
Wait till you go on the Penn Turnpike. If I remember right... it's I80. Hilly, narrow lanes, sharp turns. People going way too fast for the road. .... Recently they had a bad pile up on it. Said the bus was going too fast.... I could only think... "Well no S!"

 

The first few times through "the gorge" you might not see why both the NC and Tenn DOTs lowered the trucks. Just be mindful though of rocks hitting around and on mostly the westbound lanes of I 40. To this very day on some of those long grades, there are still vehicles there from past crashes. The wreckers don't have a long enough cable to reach them! Well, at least that is what you will hear when discussing that area!

 

That’s the old road on fancy gap. The gorge runs along a river bottom so not many huge drop offs.

 

Yes

 

cant go thur the tunnels with out blowing the city horn. beep beep beeeeeeeeeppppppppp

 

I have heard these rumors and tales most of my adult life. Like most, there might be a basis in fact, but to be honest I don't stay concerned.


Generally, though the road that NC cut through western NC was NOT what the original planners envisioned. Just like I 85 in northeast Georgia. It's all about politics. Georgia Governor Ernest Vandiver had I 85 at the GA/SC border pulled south almost into Lavonia Georgia.

I can't remember who done it. I just remember that back in the planning of I 40 through NC a VERY powerful state official made it clear, I 40 runs along the Pigeon River OR It doesn't run at all! That entire area is NOT geologically stable, this person would NOT listen to reason. Going all the way back to just after I 40 was opened both NC and Tenn have had issues with rock slides. About every 4 or 5 years you can see something like this OLD Article about that road being closed or a lane shut down!