I-40 is open between Tennessee and North Carolina. What drivers should know

Good news, travelers!

Interstate 40 is open once again at the Tennessee and North Carolina state line. The highway reopened June 27 following a rockslide and flood that overtook the road June 18.

Drivers can now cross the state’s border on I-40. For those planning to take the interstate through the mountains, here’s what you should know before you drive.

First, the interstate is not reopening to its full capacity. Interstate 40 is open with one lane in each direction ‒ the same conditions that were set in October after Hurricane Helene swept through the region in September.

Drivers should expect to travel at 40 miles per hour on the narrowed lanes through the mountain, according to Rutherford. Trucks and commercial vehicles will be allowed to pass through the corridor, but vehicles with oversized loads should seek an alternate route.

The lowered speed limit is due to infrastructure damage from Hurricane Helene, not the recent landslide. The two incidents were completely independent of one another.

Second, as you drive through the region, know that construction crews are working on the side of the road, continuing to rebuild the highway.

“This is an active construction zone,” said Drew Rutherford, a TDOT spokesperson. “Be aware that workers are present. Be cognizant that this is a work zone and exercise caution.”

Is I-40 open between Tennessee and North Carolina?

Yes, I-40 has reopened at the state line. Drivers can cross between Tennessee and North Carolina freely.

What caused the I-40 East closure between Tennessee and North Carolina?

There was a rockslide and flooding June 18, near mile marker 451 in Tennessee, according to TDOT. Since then, Interstate 40 has been closed beginning at mile marker 447 in Tennessee and Exit 20 in North Carolina, blocking travel between the two states.

The road closure in North Carolina was also due to the rockslide, causing an impass, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation spokesperson Aaron Moody.

How long is Interstate 40 in Tennessee?

Tennessee has more miles of I-40 within its boundaries than any other state, according to TDOT. The highway stretches 455 miles in the Volunteer State. I-40 has a total of 2,554.22 miles across the United States in eight states.

Is I-40 the longest interstate?

While I-40 spans 2,554.22 miles from California to North Carolina, it is not the longest interstate in the country. I-40 is the country’s third-longest interstate, according to WorldAtlas.

I-40 is outranked only by Interstate 80 and Interstate 90.