NEWPORT, Tenn. -
Both lanes of Interstate 40 West in Cocke County are closed following an early morning rockslide Tuesday.
The slide occurred between mile markers 450 and 451, near the North Carolina state line.
Mud and rocks tumbled onto the highway and Tennessee Department of Transportation spokeswoman B.J. Doughty said another house-sized boulder was in a precarious position above the highway
In a release, TDOT said geotechnical engineers were on site evaluating and planned to develop a plan to stabilize the mountainside.
An emergency contract would also be initiated to cleanup the debris.
TDOT said there was no current estimate for when I-40 West would reopen.
In the meantime, motorists traveling on I-40 West from North Carolina are being detoured onto I-240 West in Asheville to I-81 South and back onto I-40.
The detour route is approximately 53 miles.
For updates, follow TDOT on Twitter @Knoxville511 or @TN511.
