HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. — A tractor-trailer crash in the Pigeon River Gorge shut down Interstate 40 for nearly half a day on Tuesday, creating major delays along the already constricted stretch of roadway near the Tennessee state line.

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According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), crews responded just before 2:30 a.m. to a tractor-trailer that had crashed in the westbound lanes and come to rest over the right-side safety barrier.

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With the truck precariously positioned, NCDOT crews closed the interstate and worked alongside Carolina Towing to safely remove the vehicle. Officials said the safety barrier was damaged and required repairs, adding to the length of the closure. The roadway reopened around noon, nearly 10 hours after the crash, though slow-roll traffic continued as crews cleared remaining debris.

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This section of I-40 currently operates with only one lane in each direction due to ongoing repairs from flooding caused by Helene, which washed away a portion of the roadbed. The narrow work zone made recovery operations more challenging, officials said.

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