Editing Interstate 24 (section)

====Monteagle Mountain and Cumberland Plateau gorge====
{{see also|Monteagle Mountain}}
One of the most hazardous stretches of Interstate Highway in the US is located where I-24 crosses the Cumberland Plateau on steep grades in Grundy and [[Marion County, Tennessee|Marion County]] near the town of [[Monteagle, Tennessee|Monteagle]] and is commonly known as "[[Monteagle Mountain]]" or "Monteagle". While all motorists are advised to exercise caution along this stretch, truckers are particularly vexed by Monteagle, and many have died in accidents along this stretch. The eastbound grade is particularly hazardous, with a protracted four-to-six-percent grade over several miles. On this stretch, I-24 is three lanes in each direction and contains two [[runaway truck ramp]]s. Owing to geography, these two ramps are on the left side of the grade. The westbound downgrade of the plateau is also extremely hazardous and contains several sharp curves. Portions of this downgrade also feature offramp approach style lane dividers in order to slow motorists. Throughout the entire stretch across the Cumberland Plateau, the speed limit reduces to a maximum of {{convert|55|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and {{convert|45|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} for trucks on both downgrades. At top of the Plateau, the Interstate surpasses {{convert|2000|ft|m}} in elevation, has interchanges with [[U.S. Route 41 Alternate (Tennessee–Kentucky)|US&nbsp;41A]] and US&nbsp;41, respectively, and crosses into [[East Tennessee]] at the Grundy–Marion county line.

The eastern Monteagle grade also has one of the three widest medians of any Interstate Highway; the others are [[Interstate 8|I-8]] through the In-Ko-Pah grade in California and [[Interstate 84 (Oregon–Utah)|I-84]] through the Cabbage Hill grade east of [[Pendleton, Oregon]]. There is more than {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} between the eastbound and westbound lanes at one point. The eastbound lanes descend the hill on one side of Monteagle Mountain as part of the original three-lane (two ascending and one descending) US&nbsp;64 alignment, while the westbound lanes ascend the other side of the hill on new roadbed built for that purpose.

[[File:I-24 West - Exit 152AB - US72 US64 To US41 (32818385041).jpg|thumb|left|Westbound I-24 at the US&nbsp;72 interchange]]
After descending Monteagle, I-24 travels for several miles through a vast flat gorge within the plateau characterized by long straightaways and few curves before reaching an interchange with [[U.S. Route 72|US&nbsp;72]] near [[Kimball, Tennessee|Kimball]] and [[South Pittsburg, Tennessee|South Pittsburg]], where US&nbsp;64 splits off. This exit is the primary means of access to [[Huntsville, Alabama]], for motorists in East Tennessee. About {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} later, the Interstate has an interchange with [[Tennessee State Route 28|SR&nbsp;28]] in [[Jasper, Tennessee|Jasper]] and crosses the [[Sequatchie River]]. Beyond this point, the east and westbound lanes split more than {{convert|1/2|mi|m|spell=in}} apart over a few miles, encompassing farms, homes, and a few businesses in between. The route then crosses a large mountain ridge, has an interchange with [[Tennessee State Route 27|SR&nbsp;27]], and, about {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} later, crosses the [[Nickajack Lake]] impoundment of the [[Tennessee River]]. Beyond this point, the highway travels through a narrow gorge over several miles, crossing the Running Water Creek and traveling under its namesake [[Trestle bridge|trestle]]. This stretch is extremely crooked and can experience potentially strong [[crosswind]]. The Interstate then enters [[Hamilton County, Tennessee|Hamilton County]] and the [[Eastern Time Zone]] and then crosses into Georgia less than {{convert|1/4|mi|m|spell=in}} later.