I-40 will reopen on March 1 with one-lane patterns near the Tennessee-North Carolina border.
The section of Interstate 40 near the Tennessee-North Carolina border reopened Saturday after a five-month closure due to Hurricane Helene.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced the reopening with a single lane open in each direction over a 12-mile stretch with a 35 mph speed limit enforced.
Helene, which hit the Carolinas in late September, triggered massive landslides and caused severe infrastructure damage throughout the region. The closure forced travelers and freight to take lengthy detours for months.
As part of the repairs, crews installed 10,000 square feet of soil nails to stabilize the ground and prevent future landslides. Emergency repair costs are expected to reach up to $15 million, and full restoration of I-40 could take up to three years.
