Rockslide in NC near Tennessee shuts Interstate 40

I KNEW IT ! Just like the winter storms, here I go right through the thick of it. Marion Oh to Pendergrass Ga. My usual route on this load is I 75 to Knoxville, I 40 to US 23/74, and south down to I-85. I am going to try...I 75 to Cleveland TN and take TN 40 to US 411 south and into the Georgia woods.

The loads light at 16,000 lbs but I've seen some Georgia backwood hills can make an empty trailer beg for the crest. Shall be interesting, and of course...I am open to suggestions ! Especially the entering Georgia via US 411 to Pendergrass portion.

 

Not in much of a hurry when doing this load, huh? According to Google maps (and verified via GPS) the fastest route is down US 23 to Columbus and catch I-71 to I-75 to I-285 around to I-85 to Pendergrass. This is 656 miles and runs at 10:35 hours.

The way you like to run is 626 miles running at 11:05 hours.

The way you mention going (and I don't know any restrictions on trucks or how rough the terrain is) would be to go TN 40/US64 east to TN 68 South in Ducktown, Tn. Turns into GA 60 and take down to Gainesville where you catch US129 into Pendergrass. 609 miles at 11:19 hours. And it looks extremely winding and twisty in Tn and Ga.

It's up to you driver, but for my money getting somewhere faster usually meant saving money.

 

Thanks for the advice ! Much appreciated.

 

wow i'm glad i don't have to run that route anymore.

 

i remember the last rock slide. and i also remember when the road callapsed. i heard talk about tn and nc closing the gorge to the big trucks.
the last slide at mm1 damaged a truck with a large part of the mountain hitting it broadside.
one detour i took was through the maranatha gorge. it is very winding and comes out at cleveland, tn. it is hwy 64.
it does take longer going that way because of the switchbacks, but it is legal for trucks.
when the rt lane of the eastbound side fell into the river, is when they were talking of banning trucks from that stretch of road.
any time there is alot of rain fall, there is a chance for the sides of the mountain to come down. that is why they have warning signs for falling rocks.
just remember, driving a truck is an adventure.

 

for what its worth. A link to the most recent update on the slide.

http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20091028/NEWS01/910280311

 

I'm not sure of the exact location, but a couple of weeks after the closure if I-40, US 64 suffered a rock slide that closed it down East of Cleveland TN.

 

US 23 from Columbus OH to Duffield VA is one heck of a good road. 4-lane all the way to I-26 # Kingsport TN. However, if you have a heavy (30,000 lbs or more), it might be better to run down I-71 to I-75. Much easier pulls and could possibly take less time and money. Depends on the load.

As far as US 64 to Ducktown TN, it's a decent road (2-lane) but it is closed down somewhere East of Cleveland TN (I-75) due to a rock slide. Not sure if you can get to TN 68 from I-75. TN 68 is a winding road. Legal for trucks but I'd rather not run it unless necessary.


Just at the considering it point and not doing any real trip planning, if I had a light load (20,000 lbs or less), I'd come down US 23 to I-26 to I-40 West then take exit 27 (I think) which is US 23/US 441 down to Gainesville GA and it becomes I-985. Then could run I-985 to I-85 South to Atlanta.

 

Heard on TV last night that it will be at least until winter is over before I-40 is open.

 

The TV station out of Asheville was indicating this past week that it would be at least sometime in March 2010 before the road was opened.