Good news, drivers!
Part of the section of Interstate 40 that was washed out in Hurricane Helene along the Pigeon River Gorge will fully reopen by fall 2027, according to TDOT spokesperson Mark Nagi.
The storm damage occurred in both Tennessee and North Carolina, and the Tennessee side of the massive project is moving along more quickly. The section that will reopen to all lanes in a year and a half is in Cocke County, from mile markers 446 to 451.
I-40 reconstruction will continue in North Carolina, and that portion might not fully reopen until 2028.
It’s been a long path to reconstruction since Hurricane Helene destroyed a long stretch the highway in September 2024. Major mudslides and flooding caused a large chunk of the road to break off completely and fall into the river gorge below.
Traffic between Tennessee and North Carolina was completely cut off on I-40 until March 1, 2025, when crews reopened the highway in a limited capacity. One lane of traffic is open in each direction at 35 mph along the gorge.
Another rockslide in June 2025 stalled progress and temporarily closed the interstate again.
The highway remains open with reduced traffic today.
How much will the Interstate 40 repairs cost?
Repairs to I-40 in Cocke County have an estimated cost to date of $245 million, according to Nagi.
Damage to East Tennessee roads totaled $510 million, according to TDOT, and the cost will be heavily offset by federal reimbursements.
Will I-40 in Tennessee at the gorge close again?
No temporary closures will be needed for reconstruction on I-40 at the Tennessee and North Carolina state line, according to Nagi.
What happened to I-40 during Hurricane Helene?
Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic problems across western North Carolina and East Tennessee as it slammed the region on Sept. 27, 2024. I-40 was hit by the extreme weather and massive floods. More than 10 sites in a four-mile stretch collapsed into the Pigeon River Gorge during the Helene.
How many people travel along I-40 at the gorge?
I-40 is a major thoroughfare through the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The stretch of I-40 in North Carolina that was damaged by Helene traditionally supports about 7,610 trucks daily and total average daily traffic of over 26,000 vehicles.
How long is I-40?
The highway is 2,559 miles long. It passes through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina. Of that total, 455 miles go through Tennessee.
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.
Allison Kiehl covers trending and breaking news from Knoxville for the Tennessee Connect Team. Email: allison.kiehl@knoxnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Is I-40 open in Tennessee at the gorge? When highway will fully open
