Interstate 40 (I-40) Road Conditions
I-40 Road Conditions for May 22, 2026
Whole-route summary: Current I-40 construction impacts are most specific in Arizona, New Mexico, Tennessee, and North Carolina. California and Texas have official I-40 traveler-information links available, but no current named I-40 mainline or ramp closure is listed for today. Oklahoma and Arkansas have current DOT/511 sources available, but no named current I-40 ramp closure or mainline construction closure is listed for today.
- California: No current I-40 traffic restriction is listed by Caltrans for the Southern California I-40 segment.
- Arizona: Active I-40 construction includes the I-40/US 93 West Kingman traffic interchange, I-40 west of Williams pavement repair, I-40 Two Guns to Meteor City pavement preservation, and I-40 Cemetery Wash / Jackrabbit Road bridge rehabilitation near Winslow and Joseph City.
- New Mexico: Active I-40 work includes Gallup safety rehabilitation from mile marker 22.1 to 25.7, I-40 reconstruction east of Gallup, and Tijeras Canyon / Carnuel weekend lane reductions through mid-June.
- Texas: No current named I-40 ramp closure or I-40 mainline construction closure is listed for today on DriveTexas. Business I-40 / Amarillo Boulevard pedestrian improvements are in public-comment/planning status, not a current I-40 closure.
- Oklahoma: No current named I-40 ramp closure or I-40 mainline construction closure is listed in the current Oklahoma DOT construction-advisory sources.
- Arkansas: No current named I-40 ramp closure or I-40 mainline construction closure is listed for today on IDrive Arkansas. I-40 / Arkansas 59 interchange construction near Van Buren is active, with new roundabout and ramp work continuing.
- Tennessee: TDOT is stopping construction lane-closure activity beginning at noon today through 6:00 AM May 26. Before that suspension, listed I-40 impacts include Exit 126 / US 641 in Benton County, Madison County ramp restriping at Exits 79, 80, 82, 83, and 93, westbound I-40 shoulder work from Levee Road to Hollywood Street in Memphis, and I-40 Exit 12C bridge work over I-240 northbound / Summer Avenue / Sam Cooper Boulevard.
- North Carolina: I-40 remains under major reconstruction through the Pigeon River Gorge, with one narrowed lane in each direction through the repaired section. Additional I-40 work includes Triangle-area widening and interchange improvements, Winston-Salem Northern Beltway-related I-40 work, and ongoing I-40 Corridor Triangle improvements.
I-40 California Road Conditions
Caltrans QuickMap | Caltrans I-40 Highway Conditions | Caltrans Lane Closure Reports
- I-40, Southern California / Needles Freeway: Caltrans highway-condition reporting lists no current traffic restrictions for this I-40 area.
- Barstow to Needles corridor: No current named I-40 ramp closure is listed for today in the available Caltrans I-40 highway-condition report.
- Barstow to Needles corridor: No current named I-40 mainline construction closure is listed for today in the available Caltrans I-40 highway-condition report.
I-40 Arizona Road Conditions
AZ 511 | ADOT Current Road Restrictions | ADOT I-40 / US 93 West Kingman Traffic Interchange
- Kingman, I-40 / US 93 West Kingman traffic interchange: Construction continues on a new system-to-system traffic interchange connecting I-40 and US 93. The project includes free-flowing ramps and a new flyover ramp carrying traffic from southbound US 93 to eastbound I-40. Construction is expected to continue through early 2027.
- Kingman, I-40 Rancho Santa Fe traffic interchange: Interchange construction is active in east Kingman and is scheduled for completion in mid-2026.
- Williams area, I-40 approximately three miles west of Williams: Pavement repair project is active. Work includes lane striping and pavement-marking work, with construction scheduled from April 2026 into summer 2026.
- Two Guns to Meteor City Road, I-40 mileposts 230 to 240: Pavement preservation project is active approximately 15 miles west of Winslow, with work continuing toward fall 2026.
- Winslow, I-40 Cemetery Wash Bridge, eastbound milepost 253: Bridge rehabilitation project is active.
- Joseph City area, I-40 Jackrabbit Road Bridge, milepost 270: Bridge rehabilitation project is active and scheduled to continue into summer 2027.
- Perkins Valley Road / Exit 283: I-40 bridge rehabilitation work is part of the ADOT project history for this corridor. The listed full overnight I-40 closures for partial bridge demolition were scheduled for April 28 through May 1 and are not listed as active today.
- Ramp closures: No current named I-40 ramp closure for May 22 is listed in the available ADOT road-restriction text.
I-40 New Mexico Road Conditions
NMRoads | NMDOT Travel Information | NMDOT Active Projects
- Gallup, I-40 mile markers 22.1 to 25.7: Safety rehabilitation project is active in both directions. Work includes cross-slope correction, shoulder reconstruction, mill-and-inlay work, new signs and striping, guardrail installation, and culvert pipe cleaning or replacement. Two lanes are expected to remain open in each direction during the project.
- East of Gallup: The second phase of I-40 roadway reconstruction resumed May 11. Work includes rebuilding two 12-foot eastbound driving lanes with 12-foot inside and outside shoulders.
- Tijeras Canyon / Carnuel, I-40 east of Albuquerque: I-40 is reduced to one lane in either the eastbound or westbound direction through the work zone on weekends from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM through mid-June, depending on the construction schedule.
- Gallup, I-40 Miyamura interchange study area, milepost 21.7 near 2nd Street to milepost 23.7 near Boardman Drive: NMDOT study area includes I-40 ramps, Joseph M. Montoya Boulevard / NM 609, Hasler Valley Road, and NM 118 / Old Route 66. This is a study area, not a current ramp closure.
- Ramp closures: No current named I-40 ramp closure for May 22 is listed in the available NMRoads / NMDOT text results.
I-40 Texas Road Conditions
DriveTexas | DriveTexas Current Highway Conditions | TxDOT Amarillo District Lane Closures
- I-40, Amarillo District: DriveTexas is the current source for reported I-40 construction, closures, and restrictions in the Texas Panhandle.
- Business I-40 / Amarillo Boulevard, West Ninth Street / SL 279 to Hughes Street: TxDOT has a pedestrian-improvements project in public-comment/planning status. Proposed work includes pedestrian bridges, ADA-compliant shared-use paths, signal improvements at Southwest Ninth Avenue, North Western Street, and North McMasters Street, and a shared-use path from West Ninth Street / SL 279 to Hughes Street. This is not listed as a current I-40 closure for today.
- Ramp closures: No current named I-40 ramp closure is listed for today in the available DriveTexas / TxDOT Amarillo text results.
- Mainline construction closures: No current named I-40 mainline construction closure is listed for today in the available DriveTexas / TxDOT Amarillo text results.
I-40 Oklahoma Road Conditions
Oklahoma DOT Travel Information | ODOT Construction Updates | ODOT Highway Construction Updates
- I-40 statewide: ODOT construction-update sources list major construction projects and traveler impacts; short-term or minor work may not appear in the major-project list.
- Ramp closures: No current named I-40 ramp closure is listed in the available ODOT construction-advisory text for today.
- Mainline construction closures: No current named I-40 mainline construction closure is listed in the available ODOT construction-advisory text for today.
I-40 Arkansas Road Conditions
IDrive Arkansas | IDrive Arkansas Lane Closure Report | IDrive Arkansas Closure Report
- Van Buren / Alma area, I-40 and Arkansas 59 interchange: Interchange construction is active. The project includes a new roundabout and updated ramps for traffic entering and exiting I-40 from Arkansas 59. The completed layout will replace the left-turn movement to the eastbound I-40 ramp with a right turn to an access road and roundabout feeding directly to the interstate.
- I-40 and Arkansas 59 interchange: Construction began in October 2025 and is officially scheduled to wrap up in late 2026, with the possibility of extending into early 2027.
- Crittenden County, I-40 eastbound between Exit 277 and Exit 278: Short 15-minute overnight closures were previously scheduled for April 29 to remove an overhead structure. That closure is not listed as active today.
- Ramp closures: No current named I-40 ramp closure is listed for today on the available IDrive Arkansas lane-closure and closure-report text.
- Mainline construction closures: No current named I-40 mainline construction closure is listed for today on the available IDrive Arkansas lane-closure and closure-report text.
I-40 Tennessee Road Conditions
TDOT SmartWay | TDOT West Tennessee Construction May 20-27 | TDOT Projects
- Statewide Tennessee interstates: TDOT will stop construction lane-closure activity beginning at noon Friday, May 22, and continuing until 6:00 AM Tuesday, May 26.
- Benton County, I-40 at Exit 126 / US 641 / SR 69 interchange: Grading, drainage, and paving work at the interchange can cause temporary lane closures throughout the project.
- Madison County, I-40 concrete ramps: On-call restriping of concrete ramps along I-40 can cause rolling lane closures from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM at Exit 79 / SR 20, Exit 80 / SR 186, Exit 82 / SR 5, Exit 83 / Campbell Street, and Exit 93 / SR 152.
- Shelby County, westbound I-40 from Levee Road to Hollywood Street, log mile 4.65 to 7.50: Temporary nightly lane closures are listed on the westbound outside lanes for shoulder work from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM, with at least two westbound lanes remaining open.
- Shelby County, I-40 eastbound interchange flyover bridge at log mile 11.75 over I-240 northbound, SR 1 / Summer Avenue, Sam Cooper Boulevard, and ramps: Temporary lane closures were listed for May 20 and May 21 from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM for epoxy overlay work at Exit 12C. Additional striping closures are listed for May 26 and May 27.
- Shelby County, Chester Street at I-40, log mile 29.8: Northbound and southbound Chester Street are closed from Larry Anderson Lane to Scarlet Ridge Drive for bridge repairs on the I-40 bridges. Chester Street remains closed for the duration of the project.
- Memphis area, SR 1 / US 70 / Summer Avenue from near I-40 to north of Sycamore View Road: Roadway widening work reduces eastbound SR 1 from two lanes to one lane beginning at the I-40 Frontage Road and ending east of Sycamore View Road. Westbound SR 1 is reduced from two lanes to one lane beginning near Munson Road and ending at the I-40 Frontage Road.
- Ramp closures: No current named I-40 ramp full closure for May 22 is listed in the available TDOT West Tennessee construction notice. The listed I-40 ramp activity is rolling lane closure work for restriping and bridge work.
I-40 North Carolina Road Conditions
DriveNC | NCDOT Traffic & Travel Information | NCDOT I-40 Corridor Triangle Improvements
- Haywood County / Pigeon River Gorge, I-40 near the Tennessee state line: Major I-40 reconstruction continues after Hurricane Helene damage. The repaired section operates with one narrowed lane in each direction through the gorge, separated by a curb, while permanent reconstruction continues.
- Pigeon River Gorge, North Carolina Exit 7 / Cold Springs Creek Road to Tennessee Exit 447 / Big Creek Road corridor: The one-lane-each-direction traffic pattern extends through the cross-state repair corridor.
- Pigeon River Gorge: Reconstruction work includes rebuilding washed-out embankments and stabilizing the roadway through the gorge. Crews are using roller-compacted concrete and rock material as part of the permanent rebuild.
- Research Triangle region, I-40 corridor from I-85 toward Durham, Chapel Hill, Morrisville, Cary, Raleigh, Garner, and Clayton: I-40 Corridor Triangle improvements are active and include widening, interchange, and mobility improvements along the corridor.
- Orange County, I-40 widening from I-85 to the Durham County line: Project planning and work are tied to widening approximately 11.4 miles of I-40 from four lanes to six lanes and modifying interchanges, including the I-40 / NC 86 interchange.
- Winston-Salem area, I-40 westbound / Winston-Salem Northern Beltway work: NCDOT has listed I-40 westbound lane and ramp closures for ongoing Northern Beltway construction. The prior March closure notice is project-related and may not represent a current May 22 closure.
- Cary area, I-40 / I-440 / US 1 interchange: NCDOT previously scheduled nightly ramp closures for soil-testing operations at this interchange. That January closure notice is not listed as active today.
- Ramp closures: No current named I-40 ramp closure for May 22 is listed in the available DriveNC / NCDOT text results.
I-40 Road Conditions Overview
I-40 passing through northern Arizona near Flagstaff (high elevation region). Interstate 40 (I-40) is a major east–west highway spanning eight states from California to North Carolina, covering about 2,556 miles. As one of America’s longest interstates, I-40 connects the Pacific and Atlantic via deserts, mountains, plains, and major cities.
Interstate 40 spans over 2,500 miles across eight states from California to North Carolina. Road and weather conditions vary greatly along the route — from desert heat to mountain snow.
Regional Weather Hazards Along I-40
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California & Western Arizona: Summer brings extreme heat (over 110°F) and dust storms. Winters are mild in the lowlands, but Flagstaff gets heavy snow. Be ready for sudden monsoon storms in July–September.
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Eastern Arizona & New Mexico: I-40 stays at high elevation (up to 7,300 ft). Expect winter snow, strong crosswinds, and freezing nights. Summer days are warm, with thunderstorms possible.
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Texas Panhandle & Oklahoma: This area is known for tornadoes in spring, ice storms in winter, and high winds year-round. Roads are flat but can get slick quickly.
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Arkansas & Tennessee: Hot, humid summers with daily storms. In winter, ice storms and black ice can hit bridges and hills. Tornadoes are possible in spring.
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Eastern TN & Western NC: The Appalachians bring steep grades, snow, fog, and rockslides. Conditions change fast — especially near Asheville and the Pigeon River Gorge.
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Eastern NC (Raleigh to Wilmington): Summer storms and hurricanes can flood roads. Winters are mild but ice storms can occur every few years.
✔ Always check local forecasts and be ready for snow, fog, wind, or flooding along your route.
Current Road Conditions & Work Zones on I-40
Road conditions along I-40 can shift dramatically across its 2,500+ mile route due to aging infrastructure, ongoing maintenance, and regional weather damage. While some stretches offer smooth travel, others are rough or under construction. Here’s what to expect:
🛣️ Desert & Southwest (CA to NM)
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Western I-40, especially in California and Arizona, often has worn pavement, heat cracks, and surface ruts, particularly between Barstow and Flagstaff.
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Summer heat can degrade asphalt rapidly, and wind-blown sand may cause erosion or debris on the road.
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Be alert for blowing dust advisories and single-lane closures for emergency repairs.
🚧 Urban Construction Zones
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Cities like Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, and Raleigh frequently have major construction projects, including:
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Bridge repairs
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Interchange expansions
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Resurfacing projects
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Expect nighttime lane closures, narrowed shoulders, and reduced speed limits.
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In Oklahoma City, for example, a multi-month bridge rehab at I-44 causes major daytime slowdowns and overnight closures.
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Always merge early and obey posted signs — fines double in work zones, and traffic can back up fast during peak hours.
⛰️ Mountain Pass & Rockslide Areas
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In the Smoky Mountains (TN/NC border) and around Black Mountain, I-40 sees:
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Rockslide repair projects
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Lane reductions in tunnels and curves
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Brake check pull-offs for trucks
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Fog and wet pavement increase risks, especially on curvy downhill grades.
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In Arizona and New Mexico, high-elevation roadwork can be delayed due to snow or high winds — always check before crossing mountain zones.
❄️ Seasonal Maintenance & Closures
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Winter (Dec–Feb): Expect plowing, salting, and rolling closures during snow or ice storms, especially from Flagstaff to Albuquerque and through Tennessee and North Carolina.
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Spring (Mar–May): Flood repair work is common in low-lying areas of eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, and central NC.
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Summer (May–Sep): Asphalt resurfacing, guardrail replacements, and bridge maintenance often cause daytime lane closures and slower speed zones.
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Fall (Oct–Nov): Some repaving continues, but overall work decreases as colder weather sets in.
High-Risk Zones & Traffic Hazards
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Albuquerque, OKC, Nashville, Memphis: These urban areas see heavy merging, frequent crashes, and construction delays.
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Tennessee Stretch: I-40’s entire path across TN is one of the most dangerous, with steep grades and dense traffic from Memphis to Knoxville.
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Smoky Mountains (TN/NC): Sharp curves, fog, and wildlife crossings increase accident risk. Drive slowly and cautiously.
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Long Rural Stretches: Between Barstow, Gallup, and Amarillo, driver fatigue, dust storms, and lack of lighting can make night driving hazardous.
✔ Stay alert and avoid speeding. Know your location and plan breaks ahead.
