I-75 Closed at KY-TN border for rockslide

[LadyBeBop]

I posted this in the 2,000 Mile Roundtrip thread, but I think this may deserve its own thread.

Interstate 75 shut down at Kentucky-Tennessee line for weeks due to rockslide.

http://www.fox19.com/story/31332773/web-update-interstate-75-shut-down-in-tennessee

I know some of y'all are debating between the 65 route through Louisville and Nashville and the 75 route through Cincinnati and Knoxville. Guess the 65 route is now better for the time being.

However, I know a good bypass through the mess. PM me if you want it. It's not that far out of the way, but it takes you to WDW going a completely different route.

 

[kdonnel]

This will be a pain for millions of travelers. I can't imagine the backups.

 

[macraven]

this was the headline news today in my area.
such a mess!

i'm in Ga and 3/4 mile off of 75.
they are telling us here to avoid 75 at all costs..

 

[KCEMOM]

I posted this in the 2,000 Mile Roundtrip thread, but I think this may deserve its own thread.

Interstate 75 shut down at Kentucky-Tennessee line for weeks due to rockslide.

http://www.fox19.com/story/31332773/web-update-interstate-75-shut-down-in-tennessee

I know some of y'all are debating between the 65 route through Louisville and Nashville and the 75 route through Cincinnati and Knoxville. Guess the 65 route is now better for the time being.

However, I know a good bypass through the mess. PM me if you want it. It's not that far out of the way, but it takes you to WDW going a completely different route.

I would like your info on the bypass but not sure how to PM you. Can you PM me instead? Or, let me know how to PM? thank you!

 

[macraven]

I would like your info on the bypass but not sure how to PM you. Can you PM me instead? Or, let me know how to PM? thank you!

you need to have 10 posts in order to send or recieve a pm.

make one more post and you'll be there.

 

[macraven]

look at the left side of the posting site here.
you will see a box with a name in it.
if you look at mine, click macraven.

it will open to another window and click on start a conversation.
that is how you pm.

be sure to hit send once you do the pm conversation.

i was able to send you a pm.....
check your box

 

[LadyBeBop]

I'll probably post my route to this thread tomorrow. Easier to post to the thread.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Here is the detour around the rockslide. Keep in mind, it's a completely different route. One advantage; you miss Atlanta completely. In fact, I don't think you come within 200 miles of Atlanta.

1) Take Exit 29; the Cumberland Gap Parkway exit. US 25E.

2) You'll be on 25E for nearly 100 miles. It's good road; almost all four lane, highway speed. The only possible bottlenecks are in Corbin (six or seven stop lights) and Middlesboro (going through the heart of town).

3) There is a sudden left hand turn to continue on 25E about seven miles the other side of the Cumberland Gap Tunnel. It's marked, but it's not clearly marked. It's right before you reach Tazewell, Tennessee. If you go into downtown Tazewell, you've gone too far.

4) About five miles outside of Morristown, TN, take I-81 going south.

5) You'll only be on I-81 about seven miles. It dead ends into I-40.

6) Take I-40 going east towards Asheville, NC.

7) Once you hit Asheville (about 75 miles), take Exit 46A, I-26 towards Hendersonville/Spartanburg.

8) I-26 is a long route through western NC and almost all South Carolina. You'll be on it about 200 miles.

9) Once you hit I-95 (Exit 169A), go south on I-95 towards Savannah.

10) Take I-95 south about 318 miles until you reach I-4 at Daytona Beach (Exit 260B). Some may say if you hit Jacksonville during rush hour, you may want to take the bypass. We've always travelled through Jacksonville during non-peak hours, so I wouldn't know.

11) Take I-4 until you reach your Walt Disney World Exit.

To go north from WDW, just reverse. Starting out, just remember, head east toward I-95, not west toward the Florida Turnpike.

A lot of people suggest taking the toll roads off of I-4 to avoid construction traffic. I'm not sure of the toll roads leading back to I-95. The only time I've taken this route from WDW was very early on a Sunday morning where there was no traffic. Perhaps someone else will chime in.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I highly recommend the 25E route as stated above. This is a great route for anyone taking I-75 heading toward Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, or the coastal Carolinas also. There are plenty of gas stations, Walmarts, food, etc along this route, and it is 4 lane all except for a few miles. While the road does go through mountains, it is well maintained and well travelled. There are traffic lights in Corbin, Barbourville, Pineville, Middlesboro, and Harrogate, TN. We actually prefer this route going from the Lexington area to Gatlinburg and it's not much longer than I75 when it is open.

 

[007Ihavefourkids1a]

Hello
We are driving from Ontario, Canada to Clearwater area. Just wondering if anyone can suggest routes? Would they be the same as above to a point? We usually take 75 all the way.
Thanks for your help

 

[sam_gordon]

Hello
We are driving from Ontario, Canada to Clearwater area. Just wondering if anyone can suggest routes? Would they be the same as above to a point? We usually take 75 all the way.
Thanks for your help

Googlemaps suggests highway 33 out of Columbus to 64 East to 77 South to 26 East to 95 South. It's 3 miles longer bu 2 minutes shorter.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Googlemaps suggests highway 33 out of Columbus to 64 East to 77 South to 26 East to 95 South. It's 3 miles longer bu 2 minutes shorter.

Does it make a difference that they're going to Clearwater (on the Gulf side) rather than Orlando?

What part of Ontario do you live in?

 

[007Ihavefourkids1a]

We cross at Port Huron and get on 75 at Detroit. Will that change the above suggestion?
Thanks all.

 

[sam_gordon]

Does it make a difference that they're going to Clearwater (on the Gulf side) rather than Orlando?

What part of Ontario do you live in?

Good catch. I missed that. Googlemaps says I-75 (even with the rockslide) is an hour shorter than the route I posted above. I apologize.

 

[007Ihavefourkids1a]

Found this. Can anyone. Tell which is better of the two or is there a better route yet?
Exit 160- us25west/sr297 west to sr63 south and renter i75 or
Exit 29 Corbin Kentucky, us25e into Tenn, enter I81 at exit 8 Morristown/ white pine.
Thanks very much for you r help

 

[LadyBeBop]

Found this. Can anyone. Tell which is better of the two or is there a better route yet?
Exit 160- us25west/sr297 west to sr63 south and renter i75 or
Exit 29 Corbin Kentucky, us25e into Tenn, enter I81 at exit 8 Morristown/ white pine.
Thanks very much for you r help

Tough call. The first route adds about 70 miles to the trip. But you'll be moving.

If you can get a traffic report right before you get to Corbin, that may help. If they're saying it's taking an hour for the detour, I'd take the detour. Three hours, and I'd take 25E. The tipping point is probably two hours.

One thing about the 25E-81 route. Once you reach the end of I-81, go west toward Knoxville. Once you reach Knoxville and the 40-75 connection, travel as normal.

Good luck. When is your trip?

 

[007Ihavefourkids1a]

Ok, good to know. Thanks very much.
We leave the 10th of March by4, stop in Ohio that night somewhere. Not sure roughly what time we should be in the area discussed? Time of day probably a factor?

 

[Chelley00]

The original KFC (Sanders Cafe) is in Corbin. It's a quick kitschy museum stop but the food is good for a KFC.

 

[macraven]

Heard on our local news yesterday it was estimated to be a 3 week process before the rock side will be cleared up and reopened

Since the rock slide happened a week ago, might only be a couple more weeks for it to be reopened

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm very interested in this story since we have a trip to Gatlinburg scheduled for next weekend. I found this online this morning:

TDOT has awarded a contract for $2.9 million to Charles Blalock and Sons Inc. The contract includes the removal of the debris, stabilization of the existing slope and repairing the interstate.

The contract stipulates the southbound lanes must reopen within 14 days and the northbound lanes within 21 days.

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