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In the 1950's, when the general routing of the interstate system was being laid out, a major blunder was made. Instead of following the existing route of U.S. Highway 25, the planners made a major mistake and chose to route Interstate 40 through the steep and treacherous Pigeon River Gorge.
Over the years, hundreds of people have paid for that error with their lives and commerce has been repeatedly interrupted by the many closures and disruptions, as recent as two days ago, when another landslide took out a portion of the highway.
My proposal is thus:
When I-40 reaches I-240 just east of Asheville, it would run concurrently with I-240, then concurrently with I-26 north out of Asheville and up to the U.S. Highway 25/70 concurrency running westbound out of Weaverville. It would follow that concurrency all the way to Newport, Tennessee and leave that concurrence to join the existing Interstate 40 just south and east of Newport.
The existing stretch of Interstate 40 heading west from Asheville would become spur route I-740, which would go as far as the existing Exit 20. The last 20 miles of Interstate 40 in North Carolina would be closed and abandoned.
The existing stretch of Interstate 40 heading east from Newport would become spur route I-940, which would go as far as the Existing Exit 447. The last 8 miles of Interstate 40 in Tennessee would be closed and abandoned.
The necessary upgrading of the U.S. Highway 25/70 concurrency to Interstate standards would be expensive, but would be a good investment, providing a RELIABLE and SAFE route, in comparison to the unreliable and unsafe existing route. Plus all the money that must be constantly sunk into the existing route to keep repairing and reopening it AND the cost to industry of travel disruptions.
In addition, the new route would have less hairpin turns and less grades. A much easier drive, both for commercial and non-commercial drivers.
Over the years, hundreds of people have paid for that error with their lives and commerce has been repeatedly interrupted by the many closures and disruptions, as recent as two days ago, when another landslide took out a portion of the highway.
My proposal is thus:
When I-40 reaches I-240 just east of Asheville, it would run concurrently with I-240, then concurrently with I-26 north out of Asheville and up to the U.S. Highway 25/70 concurrency running westbound out of Weaverville. It would follow that concurrency all the way to Newport, Tennessee and leave that concurrence to join the existing Interstate 40 just south and east of Newport.
The existing stretch of Interstate 40 heading west from Asheville would become spur route I-740, which would go as far as the existing Exit 20. The last 20 miles of Interstate 40 in North Carolina would be closed and abandoned.
The existing stretch of Interstate 40 heading east from Newport would become spur route I-940, which would go as far as the Existing Exit 447. The last 8 miles of Interstate 40 in Tennessee would be closed and abandoned.
The necessary upgrading of the U.S. Highway 25/70 concurrency to Interstate standards would be expensive, but would be a good investment, providing a RELIABLE and SAFE route, in comparison to the unreliable and unsafe existing route. Plus all the money that must be constantly sunk into the existing route to keep repairing and reopening it AND the cost to industry of travel disruptions.
In addition, the new route would have less hairpin turns and less grades. A much easier drive, both for commercial and non-commercial drivers.