Elk in GSMNP are still accesable despite the slide
As I reported earlier today a rock slide overnight has closed a section of I40 on the Tn/NC border inside of Tennessee. The slide deposited large boulders in the breakdown lane on the westbound side and there is still a potential more rocks will slide. Tennessee officials have brought in geologists to study the situation and develop a plan to stabilize the rocky face and remove the slide rocks and reopen the road. While a timeline has not been set speculation is this will be more a matter of weeks as opposed to the last time when it took 6 months to reopen the road. The east bound lane remains open.
“It doesn’t look anywhere near as extensive as the major rock slides years ago,” said Mark Nagi, a community relations officer for Tennessee DOT.
It is unclear what or how big an effect the rockslide will have on businesses in Haywood County.
“That is just something that we can’t answer at this point in time,” said CeCe Hipps, president of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce. “Hopefully, this will not have a big effect on business in Haywood County.”
For now, county tourism leaders are spreading the word that Interstate 40 is still open near Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Canton and Clyde.
“We are just thinking how to keep the doors open,” Hipps said.
The Haywood County and Maggie chambers and the Tourism Development Authority have emailed businesses and posted information on their websites about the slide and encouraged visitors not to cancel their plans.
“We want to make sure that people are not deterred,” Hipps said.
With a much milder winter this year now is a good time to beat the crowds in the Cataloochee Valley and see the elk. This is one of my favorite places in North Carolina to go and relax if you’ve never been you need to go check this place out.
