I've searched and can't find the message. Someone with local knowledge suggested a section of I think I-40 that should be a voided... Due to contruction and a lot of stone etc. loose to be kicked up. Now I can't find it.

Anyone with local knowledge care to kick in?

 

Mark, Wiggles was the person who posted some alternate directions to bypass that construction - I have transposed his directions into a Word document, including trip miles and cumulative distance.

I'll email them to you!

 

Are you referring to the following? I'd love to have the mileage emailed to me also, as well as the directions to Fontana Village coming that way if you got them already.

 

Yes, those are the directions, I just wrote out (and calculated) them in a MapQuest-style format.

Email sent!

 

Thanks for posting this tip on travel for those of us coming from the north

 

If you have a chance I'd love to get those via email as well. Thanks!

 

Sent!

 

I just travelled on I-40 from Raleigh to Knoxville and back last week and encountered NO construction. Kinda fun through the mountains too, even though we were travelling in the mini-van !

 

So now that the construction is over, which way is quicker?????

 

That's a very good question... I PMed Wiggles, the gentleman who originally suggested the detour, to ask for his confirmation that the construction delays are no longer a factor.

I'll report back what he said, unless of course he posts it in here anyway.

 

Well, I just drove I-40 from Barstow, CA to Memphis, TN and can tell you that the section right around Albuquerque, NM is to be avoided. Although, seeing as how you live in Alexandria, VA, I would suggest a much shorter route to the Dragon. It is not necessary to drive through Albuquerque.

 

I heard back from Wiggles... here is what he said:So, with that in mind, I'm still going to lead my caravan on the alternate route.

As for you, MAJMattMason... impressive drive... I don't envy how tired you must be from that... but thanks for the "avoid Albuquerque" tip - very funny heh.

 

If you are coming down I81, you could also take the new I26/US23 road that goes from the TN - NC state line to Asheville. It cuts off a lot - imo. You would not even have to go to toward Knoxville. You pick it up just south of the Bristol Johnson City area. Then you would pick up the directions like you would be coming in from the east - US74 I think. This would bypass the "gorge" as it's called.
I think that a lot of the new maps are not listing it yet b/c it's not been "officially" renamed, but it's there. Just watch your speed - new road means ticket happy cops.

 

Yup I-26 does save some distance and depending on the time of day it'll save some time also

The NC side of the road is all finished and not that well patrolled - just one Trooper around Mars Hill area and then again coming into Asheville. If you are coming this way plan to come through Asheville before 3:30 / 4:00 pm. They are redoing a bridge on the west of Asheville (exit 44) and this is the same spot where I-40, I-26 and I-240 join. We locals call it "Malfunction junction", you will come to a complete stop if on this road within 9 miles of the interchange on most workdays around 5:00 pm.

We used I-40 through the gorge last weekend and although they are still fixing the shoulder around NC mile marker 5 on the East bound side there was no delay and no stopped traffic at all. There were however 2 of NC's finest and 1 of TN's finest patrolling the roads.

Those of you taking Hwy 74 west from I-40 to the Dragon; watch out from Waynesville to Balsam Gap (about 10 miles) and again at mile markers 83 and 81 (Sylvia and Franklin exits) they like to sit and relax there also.

 

thatatvguy and smokey4...

I'm very curious about the results that Google Maps display when giving directions, compared to MapQuest. Let's use my example.

Try this:

On BOTH websites, get directions from simply "Annandale, VA" to "Fontana Dam, NC". That's it (no street or house number).

The difference between the sites is vast!

MapQuest suggests staying on I-81S until I-40W, then getting off on 128 and taking it down. The more "traditional" way. 543.18 miles, 8 hours & 58 minutes.

Google Maps suggests taking the I-26/23 exit from I-81S and heading the way suggested by you guys... the trip distance is 552 miles (slightly longer) but a time measurement of 12 hours and 2 minutes! That's only 9 miles longer but 3 hours time difference!

Is it simply because their data is old, and the road is much faster now (i.e. faster speed limit, fewer lights?).

 

That's got to be a glitch in their mapping program.

Streets & Trips has the difference at only 33 minutes.

VA to Knoxville down 129 to Lake Fontana: 542.4 @ 8 hr 55 min

VA to Johnson City to Asheville to Lake Fontana: 547.7 @ 9hr 28 min

Then again S&T showes the road from Johnson City to AVL as being the old Hwy 19 not the new I-26. BTW I had to force the software to give me the JC/AVL routing. When I entered just VA/AVL/Fontana it gave me I-95 to I-40 and I wouldn't wish that on anyone!

I will tell you that distance doesn't mean much around here when you figure travel time.

Whatever you do be carefull out there and enjoy the trip!

 

You can't beat the mix of a good ole' paper map with some road knowledge and a hint of adventure.

 

uggg, that's one of the highways that i feel i'm going to die on. HATE I-40.

 

Yep, there's nothing like a concrete wall on one side and a 18-wheeler on the other! Ha ha.

 

Which is why I couldn't avoid the 24 foot double extension aluminum ladder that was lying in my lane.

Of course the other cars were able to straddle it with more then enough clearance. Myself on the other hand, was unable. Thankfully it was laying straight and still on the ground when I went over it. Took out the lower valance, rad support, skid plate, inner fender well and a few other little items.

Ran about $1400 in parts and labor. Great things was the owner of the ladder was standing on the side of the road waiting for a break in rush hour traffic to try and get the thing out of the way; so his insurance covered it.