State officials expect 2027 full reopening of I-40

The section of Tennessee's Interstate 40 washed out during Hurricane Helene is expected to fully reopened in fall 2027, according to TDOT officials. The storm damage along the Pigeon River Gorge impacted parts of the interstate on both the Tennessee and North Carolina side. The Tennessee side between mile markers 446 and 451 is moving more quickly than the North Carolina side, which officials said may not fully reopen until 2028. The interstate has been opened in a limited capacity since March 2025 with one lane open in each direction at a 35-mile-per-hour speed limit. However, a rockslide in June 2025 stalled progress.