KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Community members and local traffic in Unicoi County will soon have the chance to drive on a highway once again after devastating floods raged throughout the area and destroyed several roads.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation said it would open a part of Interstate 26 stretching from the state line with North Carolina to Exit 40 for local traffic only. It saw law enforcement will be on the road to enforce restrictions against commercial vehicles. Steve Borden, the TDOT director for Region 1, said thru-traffic heading to areas outside of Unicoi County will also not be able to use the reopened section of the highway.
"It's important to emphasize that this is not for commercial vehicles, and not for thru-traffic," he said. "It is important that we're trying to restore and reconnect the local citizens in their community."
TDOT also said a bridge along I-26 that crumbled from the flooding will stay closed.
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, all roads in western North Carolina should be considered closed. TDOT also said drivers should use extreme caution along the Nolichucky River corridor while crews continued assessing local roads.
It also said State Route 36 remained impassable in Unicoi County.