Haywood County -- May 8, 2026: Travel on Interstate 40 West has resumed following an early-morning tractor-trailer accident that snarled traffic near the North Carolina-Tennessee state line for several hours on Friday, May 8.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) first reported the incident just after 6:30 a.m., which forced a total closure of all westbound lanes at Exit 7 (Cold Springs Creek Road). The crash required an extended cleanup and response period, causing significant delays for those traveling toward Tennessee.
Current Status
As of 10:00 a.m., NCDOT reports that the scene has been cleared and all travel lanes are open. However, motorists should be aware of the following:
Residual Congestion: Heavy traffic remains in the "Gorge" area as the backlog of vehicles begins to clear.
Travel Time: Drivers heading toward Knoxville should still allow for extra travel time between mile marker 15 (Fines Creek) and the state line.
Stay Updated
Road conditions in the mountains can change quickly. For the most current information, travelers are encouraged to use the following resources:
Official Real-Time Updates: Check DriveNC.gov for the latest incident reports and traffic flow directly from the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Live Traffic Cameras: View current conditions at the state line and Exit 7 via NCDOT’s live cameras on their website.