That portion of eastbound I-40 near the Pigeon River Gorge was washed out by storm floods when Hurricane Helene hit the area, destroying numerous bridges and roads, including this portion of the interstate. It's been closed since late September.

A driver has died after going around a barricade and driving off the edge of a hurricane-damaged North Carolina highway that became a symbol of Hurricane Helene’s destruction. Photos of Interstate 40 with multiple lanes washed out by Helene near the Tennessee state line drew widespread attention after the storm as the region was largely cut off by numerous road closures.