Interstate 40, Transcontinental highway in southern United States
Interstate 40 is a transcontinental highway running from Barstow in California to Wilmington in North Carolina, crossing eight states along the way. It covers more than 2500 miles through deserts, mountains, plains and forests.
Construction began in the late 1950s as part of the national highway program and partly replaced the legendary Route 66. The last segment was completed in the 1980s.
The name comes from the American numbering system for east-west connections and runs through areas originally home to Cherokee, Navajo and other indigenous communities. Today the road links cities and regions with their own traditions, from desert to Appalachian hills.
The route crosses different climate zones and landscapes, so weather and visibility can vary greatly depending on the region. Gas stations, rest stops and lodging are found at regular intervals along the way.
In eastern Tennessee, where the route passes through a dense urban area, there are sections with more than 20 lanes in both directions combined. This stretch ranks among the busiest highway sections in the entire country.
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