From Staff Report 

WAYNESVILLE — The damaged 4-mile stretch of I-40 in Haywood County leading to Tennessee, where road crews have worked, was unable to reopen as planned by Jan. 1 (as state highway officials had projected) because it sustained a 60-foot section fallout. 

The latest section collapse that is delaying the reopening of the I-40 stretch was confirmed on Dec. 20 by David Uchiyama, communications officer for the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

To that end, Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported on Dec. 20, “NCDOT officials confirmed the stretch showed cracks on Dec. 16, before collapsing on the morning of Dec. 19.”

 Uchiyama added, “It certainly is an unfortunate situation — and it’s a new hurdle NCDOT and its contract partners have to overcome.”

Further, News 13 stated, “The major roadway has been closed since late September after sustaining catastrophic damages from Tropical Storm Helene.The I-40 closure has caused major traffic impacts, with long backups on I-26 and I-240 in Asheville,” 

In its report, the television station noted, “Uchiyama confirmed that traffic diverted off I-40 to an alternate route into and out of Asheville (is) leading to a huge increase in traffic volume on I-26.

“Along with the approaching (Christmas and New Year’s) holiday, afternoon traffic on I-26 was backed up in the I-26 westbound lanes for miles going into Asheville from the south on Dec. 20,” News 13 reported on Dec 20.

Uchiyama noted that the Haywood County I-40 repair project had been scheduled to reopen one side of the highway so the interstate could re-open on Jan. 1, with one open lane in each direction east and westbound, but that plan is now on hold.