Interstate 40 (I-40) Road Conditions
I-40 Road Conditions for December 11, 2025
Today, I-40 has notable construction and ramp impacts in California (rest area ramp closures and daytime lane/ramp work near Barstow and Needles), ongoing overnight lane restrictions in Kingman, Arizona, and a long-term single-lane work zone through the Pigeon River Gorge on the Tennessee–North Carolina border. Current public construction summaries for New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and the rest of North Carolina do not show any additional long-term I-40 mainline or ramp closures today beyond localized work zones that may appear on each state’s real-time 511 maps.
- California: Both directions’ ramps serving the John Wilkie Safety Roadside Rest Area near Fenner remain closed long term, and today there are multiple daytime lane closures between National Trails Highway and Montara Road near Barstow plus a full closure of the westbound I-40 off-ramp to River Road in Needles for slab replacement.
- Arizona: The I-40/US 93 West Kingman Traffic Interchange project continues. I-40 between Stockton Hill Road and Beale Street (MP 51–48) is reduced to one lane each way overnight Monday–Thursday, with periodic short full closures for controlled rock blasting on specific dates later in December.
- New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas: Latest published I-40 construction summaries indicate no active full closures of the I-40 mainline or its ramps across these four states today; routine short-term maintenance or incident closures may still occur.
- Tennessee & North Carolina (Pigeon River Gorge): I-40 operates in a long-term work zone with one lane open each direction between about Exit 7 (Cold Springs Creek Road) in North Carolina and Exit 447 (Big Creek Road) in Tennessee, including the stretch near MM 446 in Cocke County, TN. Oversize traffic (wider than roughly 8.5 feet) is prohibited and must detour.
- Remaining North Carolina segments: Outside the gorge, current summaries do not list any I-40 ramps or mainline segments as fully closed for construction today.
I-40 California Road Conditions
Caltrans lane-closure data for today shows several specific I-40 work zones in the Mojave Desert and along the Colorado River:
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John Wilkie Safety Roadside Rest Area – Fenner:
- EB & WB I-40 rest-area ramps at John Wilkie Safety Roadside Rest Area are closed long term for emergency work. All lanes of both the eastbound and westbound rest area ramps between Route 40 and the John Wilkie Rest Area are closed with no listed end date.
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Barstow / Newberry Springs – National Trails Hwy to Montara Road:
- Eastbound I-40 from Montara Road in Barstow to National Trails Highway in Newberry Springs: Lanes 1 and 2 closed for paving operations today from about 6:01 a.m. to 6:01 p.m.
- Westbound I-40 from National Trails Highway to Montara Road: Lanes 1 and 2 closed for paving during roughly the same timeframe.
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Needles – D Street to Park Road & River Road off-ramp:
- Westbound I-40 from D Street to Park Road: Lanes 1 and 2 closed for slab replacement from about 8:01 a.m. to 3:59 p.m.
- Eastbound I-40 from Park Road to D Street: Lane 1 closed for slab replacement during the same window.
- Westbound I-40 off-ramp to River Road (Needles): All ramp lanes closed for slab replacement today from about 8:01 a.m. to 3:59 p.m.
For additional short-term changes, check: Caltrans QuickMap (California 511)
I-40 Arizona Road Conditions
The I-40/US 93 West Kingman Traffic Interchange project continues to affect I-40 in Kingman:
- Full freeway closures (specific dates): On designated nights (Dec. 4, 9, 16, 18, and 23), I-40 is fully closed in both directions between Stockton Hill Road and Beale Street (mileposts 51–48) starting around 8 p.m. for controlled rock blasting, each lasting about 30 minutes. These closures do not occur every night, only on the specified dates.
- Nightly lane restrictions (current pattern): On Monday–Thursday nights, I-40 and US 93 in the work area run with intermittent lane restrictions from about 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Drivers should expect reduced capacity through the I-40/US 93 corridors near Kingman during those times.
- Local road closure: Clack Canyon Road between Longview Avenue and Fort Beale Road remains closed for the duration of the project, with no vehicle access under I-40 at this location.
For real-time restrictions and any additional closures along I-40 in Arizona, use: AZ 511 – Arizona DOT Traffic & Road Conditions
I-40 New Mexico Road Conditions
The latest I-40 construction summary for New Mexico reports no active construction closures of the mainline or its ramps between the Arizona state line near Mentmore and the Texas state line east of Tucumcari. Interchanges around Gallup, Grants, Albuquerque (including the I-25 system interchange), Moriarty, Santa Rosa, and Tucumcari are not listed as closed due to construction today.
Short-term maintenance or incident-related closures will appear on: NMRoads – NMDOT 511 Travel Information
I-40 Texas Road Conditions
For Texas, the current I-40 construction report shows no active full closures of I-40 or its interchange ramps between the New Mexico line and the Oklahoma state line. This includes the major Panhandle interchanges at Adrian, Vega, Amarillo (Exits 60–81 and surrounding ramps), Groom, Alanreed, McLean, and Shamrock, none of which are flagged as closed for construction today.
Lane closures or incidents not part of long-term construction are visible on: DriveTexas – TxDOT Real-Time Road Conditions
I-40 Oklahoma Road Conditions
The current I-40 construction summary for Oklahoma indicates no active construction closures of either the I-40 mainline or its ramps today. Key I-40 interchanges at Elk City, Clinton, Weatherford, El Reno, Oklahoma City (including I-35, I-44, and I-240 system ramps), Shawnee, Henryetta, Checotah, Sallisaw, and the Arkansas state line are not listed as fully closed for construction.
Check Oklahoma’s real-time traffic map for any short-notice work zones: OKTraffic – Oklahoma DOT Real-Time Traffic Map
I-40 Arkansas Road Conditions
For Arkansas, today’s I-40 construction summary reports no active long-term construction closures on the I-40 mainline and no ramps listed as fully closed between the Oklahoma border, Fort Smith, Russellville, Conway, Little Rock, Brinkley, Forrest City, and the Mississippi River bridge at West Memphis.
Short-duration lane closures and incident-related restrictions are shown on: IDrive Arkansas – ARDOT Closures & Lane-Closure Reports
I-40 Tennessee Road Conditions
The primary I-40 construction impact in Tennessee today remains the long-term work zone in the Smokies near the North Carolina line:
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Cocke County – MM ~446 to NC State Line:
- I-40 East is reduced to one lane from roughly mile marker 446 in Cocke County to the state line. Traffic wider than about 8.5 feet is prohibited through this segment and must detour (commonly via I-81 and I-26 or I-81 and I-77).
- I-40 West also operates in a single-lane configuration through the gorge area, with reduced speeds and narrow lanes.
- Other Tennessee segments: Current statewide construction listings do not identify any I-40 ramps elsewhere in Tennessee (for example in Memphis, Nashville, Cookeville, or Knoxville) as fully closed for construction today. Lane closures do occur but are generally short term and shown on the live map.
For real-time updates, use: TDOT SmartWay – Tennessee Interstate Traffic & Construction
I-40 North Carolina Road Conditions
I-40 in western North Carolina is still operating under a long-term reconstruction configuration in the Pigeon River Gorge following hurricane and rockslide damage:
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Pigeon River Gorge – Haywood County / TN State Line:
- From about Exit 7 (Cold Springs Creek Road) eastward into North Carolina and westward to Exit 447 (Big Creek Road) in Tennessee, I-40 is open with one lane in each direction on a narrowed roadway and reduced speeds (about 35–40 mph).
- A concrete curb separates opposing lanes through much of this work zone, and the corridor remains under active long-term repair. Oversize loads are not allowed through this section and must use designated detours.
- Rest of North Carolina (Asheville, Greensboro, Raleigh, Wilmington): Current public summaries do not list any I-40 ramps or mainline segments as fully closed for construction outside the gorge work zone. Localized lane closures may still be present in ongoing projects.
For the latest incident and work-zone information, go to: DriveNC – NCDOT Real-Time Traffic, Road Closures & Travel
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.
