Waterville, Tennessee – A major section of Interstate 40 near the Tennessee and North Carolina state line remains closed after heavy flooding and a rockslide.

Traffic on I-40 East is being forced off at Exit 440 (US 321/Wilton Springs Road/Gatlinburg). Further east, all drivers must exit at Hartford Road (Exit 447).

Floodwaters have not yet receded. A massive flow of water continues to pour down the slope near Exit 451 (Waterville Road), where the slide occurred.

Crews are on site assessing the damage. The road remains unsafe in both directions.

Officials say it may take at least two weeks for the water to drain, repairs to be completed, and cleanup operations to finish.

Until then, I-40 will stay closed between Tennessee and North Carolina.

The detour to North Carolina is now I-81 North to I-26 East.

The National Park Service also issued a warning. Commercial vehicles are strictly prohibited on US 441/Newfound Gap Road inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

That route is too dangerous for large vehicles. It has no truck lanes, no emergency ramps, and sharp continuous curves.

Newfound Gap Road is not a safe alternative.

Crews will continue monitoring the area. A timeline for reopening I-40 will be announced after a full inspection.

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