Interstate 26 in Unicoi County back open with one lane of travel

A month after historic flood waters leveled an Interstate 26 bridge in Unicoi County, a traffic pattern that allows drivers to journey into North Carolina is back in service.

TDOT District 1 spokesperson Mark Nagi said the route now has one lane of traffic open as of Wednesday afternoon between mile markers 39 and 40.

Nagi’s report noted the continued ban on large vehicle traffic on the route including wide loads over 12 feet. Those drivers need to continue using Interstates 81 and 77 as a detour route.

It has been 33 days since the roadway that accommodates more than 3,000 vehicles an hour was closed after deadly rushes of water out of the Nolichucky River destroyed the bridge during Hurricane Helene. TDOT Commissioner Butch Ely said their preliminary data showed the volume of water that knocked the structure down was flowing at a rate of 1.2 billion gallons per second.

I-26 in Unicoi County is now back open to one lane of traffic in each direction between MM 39 and MM 40. Wide loads over 12 feet are NOT allowed, and should continue to use I-81 and I-77 as a detour route. pic.twitter.com/HUaDXqzT0c

— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagiTDOT) October 30, 2024

(IMAGE: Footage of Interstate 26 in Unicoi County published by Tennessee Department of Transportation on their official X account/ TDOT)