From Staff Reports 

WAYNESVILLE — Interstate 40 at the North Carolina/Tennessee state line is expected to partially reopen on March 1, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein confirmed during a Feb. 10 visit to Western North Carolina by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported on Feb. 10.

Stein said one lane will open in each direction, with reduced speeds in place. In a post on X, Stein added that the two lanes will open within a construction zone and, “at least it’ll start the process of reconnecting Western North Carolina to the rest of the country.”

During his visit, Duffy said the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Forest Service are working together to obtain a “special use” permit to use rock from Forest Service land and extract construction materials from the local river.

Duffy’s visit to North Carolina and neighboring Tennessee was to assess the damage along I-40 caused by Hurricane Helene and received an update on the ongoing recovery efforts from state and federal officials.