Site Navigation Alabama Florida Georgia Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee     Interstate 40 Eastbound - Haywood County Interstate 40 East Welcome to North Carolina sign posted near Waterville. Photo taken 05/01/05. A pair of two-lane tunnels carries Interstate 40 through the south end of Dry Gap Ridge near Big Bend of the Pigeon River. The Pigeon River Gorge section of Interstate 40, including this set of tunnels, opened to traffic in 1968. These were the first tunnels along the Interstate system east of the Mississippi River.1 Photo taken 05/01/05. Interstate 40 continues southward through Pigeon River Gorge to Cove Creek. The four-lane freeway's fall is dramatic, so truckers are advised to not travel over 50 mph on the next 16-mile stretch. Photo taken 05/01/05. Interstate 40 east approaches its final North Carolina interchange (Exit 7). Intersecting the freeway ahead is Cold Springs Road from the east and Harmon Den Road from the west. Photo taken 05/01/05. Exit 7 serves an isolated area within Pigeon River Gorge from Interstate 40. Cold Springs Road stems east along Cold Springs Creek between Hurricane Ridge and Harmon Den Mountain. Harmon Den Road hugs the west bank of the Pigeon River before climbing toward Buzzard Roost. Photo taken 05/01/05. Soon after the merge of U.S. 74 eastbound onto Interstate 40 is the two-mile guide sign for North Carolina 215 (Exit 31). North Carolina 215 spurs south from the Exit 31 diamond interchange into Canton (pop. 4,029) and West Canton (pop. 1,156). Photo taken 08/15/04. Interstate 40 & U.S. 74 eastbound cross over SR-1550 one mile ahead of the Exit 31 off-ramp for the southbound beginning of North Carolina 215. North Carolina 215 travels 1.9 miles south to junction U.S. 19 & 23 (New Clyde Highway) just west of downtown Canton. Photo taken 08/15/04. Newfound Road ties into Interstate 40 & U.S. 74 at the second Canton interchange (Exit 33). Pictured here is the one-mile guide sign for the forthcoming diamond interchange. Newfound Road travels northeast from Main Street and downtown Canton 1.7 miles to Exit 33. Photo taken 08/15/04. Auxiliary guide sign of Exit 33 for the community of Leicester in western Buncombe County. Newfound Road continues 12 miles to its end at Georgetown and junction North Carolina 63. North Carolina 63 enters Leicester 3.8 miles north of the Newfound Road intersection. Photo taken 08/15/04. Interstate 40 & U.S. 74 truck advisory sign for the sharp curvature of the freeway between Exit 33 and the Buncombe County line. Interstate 40 & U.S. 74 stay north of Canton and the U.S. 19 & 23 between Exit 27 and Asheville. Photo taken 08/15/04. Exit 33 represents the last Haywood County interchange for Newfound Road and Canton. Interstate 40 & U.S. 74 descend toward to Luther, Candler, and the Asheville metropolitan area from here. Photo taken 08/15/04. One-mile guide sign for the Exit 37 diamond interchange for Candler. SR-1200 stems north from U.S. 19 & 23 (Smoky Park Highway) to Interstate 40 & U.S. 74 at the community of Luther. Photo taken 08/15/04. Page Updated October 21, 2008.