Updated: 11/1/2009 11:39:24 PM
Sunday marked one week since a devastating rock slide blocked Interstate 40 at the North Carolina line. The slide detoured SEC football fans and their dollars to the route along Interstate 81.
This weekend, USC Gamecock fan Jody Sandifer and his family made the trip to east Tennessee from Orangeburg, South Carolina.
"We stopped at the North Carolina Welcome Center outside of Asheville and they recommended coming up through Johnson City," said Sandifer. "It was a nice trip except for the ball game and the weather yesterday."
If the landslide loss to the Volunteers did not already make the ride home seem long enough for Gamecock fans, the rock slide added an extra hour to the drive.
With detours directing drivers to Interstate 81 and Interstate 26 in lieu of I-40, the rock slide means a windfall for businesses near the Tri-Cities. Some gas stations in greenville report an extra 100 customers a day.
"We've been busy. Really busy," said Renee Swecker, assistant manager at the BP Quick Stop in Greeneville. "Our gas sales are up tremendously. I know it's a bad thing as far as [the rock slide] goes, but we appreciate it."
For gas stations located near the rock slide, business has virtually died.
"It is depressing. It is sad," said Kim Clark, cashier at the BP off exit 447. "People come in, use the bathroom, want directions, and that is about it."
State officials say interstate 40 will probably remain closed until early february while crews clean up the rock slide. Clark said the timing is especially bad since it stops traffic during peak folliage season and into the upcoming holiday travel season.
While businesses have a long road ahead, the Sandifers' said drivers should not let the detour stop any travel plans.
"It was not bad at all. It was really pretty between Asheville and Johnson City," said Joey Sandifer, Jody's father.
"Hopefully, we'll take care of the Volunteers when they come to South Carolina next year. We'll be ready for them," said Jody Sandifer.
