Monteagle Mountain is the local name given to a stretch of
Interstate 24
Interstate 24 (I-24) is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. It runs diagonally from I-57, south of Marion, Illinois, to Chattanooga, Tennessee, at I-75. It travels through Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, ...
near
Monteagle,
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
that travels over the
Cumberland Plateau
The Cumberland Plateau is the southern part of the Appalachian Plateau in the Appalachian Mountains of the United States. It includes much of eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, and portions of northern Alabama and northwest Georgia. The terms "Alle ...
. Being part of the plateau, it is not technically a mountain, but appears that way to motorists crossing over it. It is frequently referenced as one of the most treacherous stretches of highway in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, especially in inclement weather. It rises to an elevation of around , with gradients of 6%.
Description
The section of I-24 known,
tautologically, as Monteagle Mountain consists of a segment in
Grundy and
Marion Marion may refer to:
People
*Marion (given name)
*Marion (surname)
*Marion Silva Fernandes, Brazilian footballer known simply as "Marion"
*Marion (singer), Filipino singer-songwriter and pianist Marion Aunor (born 1992)
Places Antarctica
* Mari ...
counties that includes both the eastern and western
escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that forms as a result of faulting or erosion and separates two relatively level areas having different elevations.
The terms ''scarp'' and ''scarp face'' are often used interchangeably with ''escar ...
of the
Cumberland Plateau
The Cumberland Plateau is the southern part of the Appalachian Plateau in the Appalachian Mountains of the United States. It includes much of eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, and portions of northern Alabama and northwest Georgia. The terms "Alle ...
. I-24 also
travels concurrently with
U.S. Route 64 (US 64) through this section. I-24 crosses the plateau in its narrowest section, which appears as an
hourglass
An hourglass (or sandglass, sand timer, sand clock or egg timer) is a device used to measure the passage of time. It comprises two glass bulbs connected vertically by a narrow neck that allows a regulated flow of a substance (historically sand) ...
shape on maps. Monteagle Mountain is best known for its eastern descent, but its western descent is also one of the most hazardous stretches of
Interstate Highway
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, is a network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Highway System in the United States. Th ...
as well. Compared to grades elsewhere, Monteagle's 4–6% grade over a period of several miles does not come close to the steepest. The route contains six lanes over the eastern escarpment, with the extra lane on the westbound side serving as a
truck climbing lane
Climbing lanes or crawler lanes are a roadway lane design. They allow slower travel for large vehicles, such as large trucks or semi-trailer trucks, ascending a steep grade. Since climbing uphill is difficult for these vehicles, they can travel in ...
, and four lanes over the western escarpment. The
Tennessee Department of Transportation
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is a multimodal agency with statewide responsibilities in roadways, aviation, public transit, waterways, and railroads. The mission of TDOT is to provide a safe and reliable transportation syste ...
(TDOT) has yet to construct a truck lane on the western ascent.
On the eastern descent of the plateau, the eastbound lanes contain a 6% grade over a length of about where the elevation drops , and is particularly hazardous to truckers. At the top of this downgrade is a
truck inspection station, and this downgrade also contains two
runaway truck ramp
A runaway truck ramp, runaway truck lane, escape lane, emergency escape ramp, or truck arrester bed is a traffic device that enables vehicles which are having braking problems to safely stop. It is typically a long, sand- or gravel-filled lane co ...
s, which are on the left due to the terrain. The speed limit on the eastbound lanes reduces to and for trucks, while on the westbound lanes it reduces to , with no separate restrictions for trucks.
The eastern downgrade of Monteagle Mountain also contains the third-widest median of any Interstate Highway, with the others being
I-8 through the
In-Ko-Pah grade in
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
and
I-84
Interstate 84 may refer to:
* Interstate 84 (Oregon–Utah), passing through Idaho, formerly known as Interstate 80N
* Interstate 84 (Pennsylvania–Massachusetts)
Interstate 84 (I-84) is an Interstate Highway in the Northeaster ...
through the Cabbage Hill grade east of
Pendleton, Oregon
Pendleton is a city and the county seat of Umatilla County, Oregon. The population was 17,107 at the time of the 2020 census, which includes approximately 1,600 people who are incarcerated at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution.
Pendleton ...
.. There is more than between the eastbound and westbound lanes at one point. The eastbound lanes descend the mountain on one side of a ridge, while the westbound lanes ascend the other, and are located on what was originally US 64. The westbound ascent is approximately longer than the eastbound decent, making the westbound side slightly out of line with mileage signing.
The western downgrade of Monteagle Mountain on I-24 drops over , with a 5% grade. While not considered as hazardous as the eastbound descent, the westbound descent contains many curves, including one "c-shaped" curve, protracted over a distance of almost . The eastbound and westbound lanes are also located very close together, and crossover crashes and crashes with
Jersey barrier
A Jersey barrier, Jersey wall, or Jersey bump is a modular concrete or plastic barrier employed to separate lanes of traffic. It is designed to minimize vehicle damage in cases of incidental contact while still preventing vehicle crossovers resu ...
s located in the median in some places are common on this stretch. This segment also features off-ramp approach-style lane dividers, in order to slow both motorists and truckers. The speed limit on the downhill westbound lanes, of this stretch is and for trucks, while on the uphill eastbound lanes it is , with no separate restrictions for trucks.
[
The approximately on top of the mountain, which contains exits with US 41 and US 41A, is not hazardous, but maintains the speed limit. A ]rest area
A rest area is a public facility located next to a large thoroughfare such as a motorway, expressway, or highway, at which drivers and passengers can rest, eat, or refuel without exiting onto secondary roads. Other names include motorway servi ...
is located at the top of the western escarpment of Monteagle Mountain.
East of the grade, the route passes through a narrow valley alongside Battle Creek, with slight banked curves as it enters Kimball Kimball may refer to:
People
*Kimball (surname)
* Kimball (given name)
Places Canada
* Kimball, Alberta
United States
* Kellogg, Iowa, formerly known as Kimball
* Kimball, Kansas
* Kimball, Minnesota
* Kimball, Nebraska, a city
* Kimball, South ...
and South Pittsburg. West of the grade, the route enters the relatively flat terrain of the Eastern Highland Rim
The Highland Rim is a geographic term for the area in Tennessee surrounding the Central Basin. Nashville is largely surrounded by higher terrain in all directions.
Geologically, the Central Basin is a dome. The Highland Rim is a cuesta surrou ...
, passing through Pelham.
Background
The mountain was part of the Cherokee
The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...
homeland until 1817. The mountain was named "Eagle Mountain" by the Cherokee because of the great number of golden eagle
The golden eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is a bird of prey living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. They are one of the best-known bird of p ...
s that roosted and nested along its ridge line. In fact, in honor of those birds, for many years a golden eagle sat in the park in Monteagle until it was stolen as a school prank. It now sits in display at Tennessee Technological University
Tennessee Technological University, commonly referred to as Tennessee Tech, is a public research university in Cookeville, Tennessee, United States. It was formerly known as Tennessee Polytechnic Institute, and before that as University of Dixie ...
.
After the Cherokee were removed, the area was renamed "Moffit's Station" in May 1870 by John Moffat, a native of Glasgow, Scotland
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
, with his wife and children. It would later become "Moffat Station" and still later, the city of Monteagle.
Route history
US Highways
US 41 was constructed across the mountain in 1923, which was then known as the Dixie Highway
Dixie Highway was a United States auto trail first planned in 1914 to connect the Midwest with the South. It was part of a system and was expanded from an earlier Miami to Montreal highway. The final system is better understood as a network of ...
and State Route 2 (SR 2). It later became US 64, and was upgraded to a two-lane road
A single carriageway (British English) or Undivided highway (American English) is a road with one, two or more lanes arranged within a one carriageway with no central reservation to separate opposing flows of traffic. A single-track road has a s ...
with additional truck climbing lanes on both of the downgrades for a total of three lanes.
Interstate Highway era
I-24 was constructed across the mountain between 1962 and 1968 by grandfathering
A grandfather clause, also known as grandfather policy, grandfathering, or grandfathered in, is a provision in which an old rule continues to apply to some existing situations while a new rule will apply to all future cases. Those exempt from t ...
in and improving the original segment of US 64. The route on the western downgrade of the mountain was widened to four lanes, and the eastern downgrade with two westbound and one eastbound lane was connected to I-24 while the westbound lanes were constructed. Construction on the westbound lanes was completed in 1973, and the three original lanes of US 41 on the eastern downgrade were converted to the eastbound lanes of I-24.[
Beginning in April 1985, the eastbound lanes of I-24 on the eastern downgrade of Monteagle Mountain were extensively straightened and rebuilt, and the grades reduced.] The project also added left shoulders and an additional runaway truck ramp. This work was completed in 1989, and the lanes were reopened on July 11 of that year in a ceremony officiated by then-governor Ned McWherter
Ned Ray McWherter (October 15, 1930April 4, 2011) was an American businessman and politician who served as the 46th Governor of Tennessee, from 1987 to 1995. Prior to that, he served as Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives from 19 ...
.[ The project experienced many setbacks including geological problems, which delayed the project, and the inspection station and additional runaway truck ramp were not planned.][ Originally targeted for completion in December 1987 at a cost of $17 million, the final cost was $29.5 million.][ During this time both directions of traffic were routed to the westbound lanes of I-24.] After the project was completed, eastbound I-24 was reopened, this time with a new truck climbing lane. A truck station to allow for the adjustment of brakes opened in January 1992.[
After the safety improvements were completed, accidents in the eastbound lanes of this stretch dropped from 54 in 1983 to 3 in 1991.]
In popular culture
*The song "The Legend", written by Jerry Reed
Jerry Reed Hubbard (March 20, 1937 – September 1, 2008) was an American singer, guitarist, composer, and songwriter as well as an actor who appeared in more than a dozen films. His signature songs included " Guitar Man", " U.S. Male", "A Thi ...
as the title song for the film ''Smokey and the Bandit
''Smokey and the Bandit'' is a 1977 American road action comedy film starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams and Mike Henry. The directorial debut of stuntman Hal Needham, the film follows ...
'', describes the Bandit in a harrowing journey down the Monteagle Grade in 1963.
*"Monteagle Mountain", a song sang by Johnny Cash
John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his ca ...
written by Thomas Richard McGibony for his 1990 album ''Boom Chicka Boom
''Boom Chicka Boom'' is the 76th album by American country music singer Johnny Cash, released in 1990 on Mercury Records. The title refers to the sound that Cash's backing band, the Tennessee Three, were said to produce. It includes a cover of ...
''. The song is told from the point of view of a truck driver who nearly has an accident descending the eastern grade of the mountain.
References
{{Coord, 35, 14, N, 85, 52, W, display=title
Transportation in Tennessee
Geography of Grundy County, Tennessee
Geography of Marion County, Tennessee
Transportation in Grundy County, Tennessee
Transportation in Marion County, Tennessee
Interstate 24
Monteagle, Tennessee
U.S. Route 41
U.S. Route 64