Flooding, rockslide close same part of I-40 impacted by Helene in Cocke County

COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) - The Tennessee Department of Transportation said a rockslide shut down I-40 in Cocke County Wednesday afternoon.

TDOT’s Mark Nagi announced made the announcement of the rockslide near mile marker 450 in Cocke County shortly after 5 p.m.

Nagi said drivers should seek alternate routes as both westbound and eastbound lanes of I-40 were shut down. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, I-40 East is redirecting at mile marker 447, and I-40 West is redirecting in North Carolina at mile marker 7. Additionally, it shut down Foothills Parkway East.

Mayor Rob Mathis said multiple cars were stranded at the scene and that multiple emergency units responded. He added that the Pigeon River is elevated in Hartford and that everyone downstream is asked to use caution.

Mathis reiterated that with Helene, the flooding rose from below. But with this situation, flooding came down from the mountains.

Cocke County Sheriff CJ Ball said all available first responders and work crews responded to the area.

There have not been any reported injuries, Mathis said. Additionally, all passengers have been accounted for. He added they were taken back to Newport and their families were picking them up.

Witnesses on the scene told WVLT News drivers who were stranded by the floodwaters were able to detour at around 8 p.m. to find a way around the closed interstate.

Related Coverage: Woman describes being stranded on I-40 in Cocke Co. for hours after flooding shut down interstate

Nagi said drivers should avoid the area and not try to travel into North Carolina on I-40.

Officials with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park reminded drivers that no commercial vehicles are allowed to drive on US 441/Newfound Gap Road.

“With I-40 closed at the NC/TN line, the NPS is seeing an increase in commercial vehicles attempting to drive over US441/Newfound Gap Road,” officials said. “Newfound Gap Road is a two-lane road with steep continuous grades and tight curves. There are no truck lanes, runaway truck ramps or places for a large commercial vehicle to slow down and pull over.”

Mathis said that I-40 will remain closed for an extended period of time. It’s unclear when it will reopen.

WVLT reached out to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. They said they were watching the situation but local officials had not requested their assistance at this time.

Additional information was not released.

This is a developing story.