A stretch of Interstate 40 through the western North Carolina mountains is reopening to traffic this weekend, months after Hurricane Helene’s historic flooding collapsed portions of the road, partially restoring the major travel connection with eastern Tennessee.

After a five-month closure due to Hurricane Helene, a 12-mile stretch of I-40 near the Tennessee border will reopen on Saturday.

Part of Interstate 40 in the North Carolina mountains will open this weekend, months after it was closed following the devastation brought by Hurricane Helene in September. Sections of I-40 near the North Carolina-Tennessee line sustained major damage from the storm,