HAYWOOD COUNTY – One westbound lane of Interstate 40 has reopened after a small rockslide at mile marker 7.5 had both lanes shut for hours.

NC Department of Transportation reported the slide occurred around 1:15 p.m. June 10. As of 5:30 p.m., one lane had reopened, and the second was expected to reopen overnight, said NCDOT spokesman David Uchiyama.

“Upon arrival, transportation officials found three boulders in a ditch beside the road and determined that a handful other rocks need to be removed from the mountain because they posed a danger to drivers,” an NCDOT news release issued later in the afternoon stated.

Geotechnical engineers examined the area, which was likely affected by recent heavy rains, Uchiyama said.

A slide occurred less than a mile west in February and had all or portions of the interstate closed until early May.