ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Two vehicle crashes slowed traffic across parts of Western North Carolina during the Wednesday morning commute, prompting lane and shoulder closures in Haywood and Buncombe counties.

In Haywood County, all westbound lanes of Interstate 40 were closed about 2 miles west of Exit 33 near Newfound Road, north of West Canton, following a crash near Champion Drive. The closure, reported at about 8:19 a.m., shut down both westbound lanes near mile marker 31 and was expected to have a high impact on traffic. Lanes were projected to reopen by about 9:19 a.m.

In Buncombe County, a separate crash led to the closure of the right shoulder on northbound N.C. 191 near Interstate 40. The affected area stretches from Brevard Road to I-40 East. That incident was reported shortly after 8:20 a.m. and was expected to cause a moderate impact on traffic, with the shoulder reopening around 9:21 a.m.

Drivers were advised to expect delays and consider alternate routes while crews responded to both crashes.