Monteagle Mountain is a steep mountain grade located in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee on Interstate 24, approximately 75 miles east of Nashville, Tennessee. Interstate 24 is part of the main route connecting Nashville, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia. Interstate 24, at this location, consist of an east and west summit separated by approximately two and a half miles of rolling hills with a steep descent from both summits.
Westbound Interstate 24 from the Monteagle Summit has a vertical descent of 778 ft. over 4 miles. The reported grade for the westbound descent is 5% for 4 1/2 miles. About half way down this grade there is a right advisory curve. The median barrier at the curve has a significant amount of damage showing many vehicles have had trouble here.
Eastbound Interstate 24 at Monteagle Summit has a mandatory truck inspection area where signs containing information about the grade are displayed. After stopping at the mandatory truck inspection area, trucks must then weigh at a traffic metering signal before re-entering Interstate 24. Interstate 24 from the eastbound Monteagle Summit has a vertical descent of 1,161 ft. over a distance of 4.1 miles. The reported grade for the eastbound descent is 6% for 4 1/2 miles. The eastbound descent has runaway truck ramps at both 1.9 miles and 3 miles from the summit. Both runaway truck ramps are on the left side of the road, so trucks using the runaway ramps must cross two eastbound lanes of traffic to do so.
SUMMIT
Pass Name:
Monteagle Mountain
Traversed by Highway:
I-24
Summit Elevation:
1,905 ft. westbound, 1,881 ft. eastbound
Summit Conditions:
Mandatory truck stop and inspection with metering traffic signal and information signs for eastbound descent
Summit Milepost:
134 westbound, 136.3 eastbound
WESTBOUND DESCENT
Base Elevation:
1,047 ft.
Vertical Distance:
778 ft.
Base Milepost:
129.6
Driving Distance:
4 miles
Posted Speed Limit:
55 mph/ 45 mph for trucks
Steepest Reported Grade:
5% for 4 1/2 miles
Calculated Average Grade:
3.6%
Lowest Advisory Speed:
45 mph at 1.2 miles from summit
Number of Lanes:
Three westbound
Number of Advisory Speed Curves:
Two
ADVISORY CURVES
Advisory Speed
Location from Summit
Sign
45 mph
132.8 milepost
Right Curve
None
130.8 milepost
Left Reverse Curve
ELEVATIONS
Mile Marker
Elevation
Change in Elevation
Percent Grade
134
1,905 ft.
133
1,767 ft.
138 ft.
2.6%
132
1,543 ft.
224 ft.
4.2%
131
1,319 ft.
224 ft.
4.2%
130
1,127 ft.
192 ft.
3.6%
Monteagle Mountain Westbound
EASTBOUND DESCENT
Base Elevation:
720 ft.
Vertical Distance:
1,161 ft.
Base Milepost:
129
Driving Distance:
4.1 miles
Posted Speed Limit:
55 mph/ 45 mph for trucks
Steepest Reported Grade:
6% for 4 1/2 miles
Calculated Average Grade:
5.4%
Number of Lanes:
Three eastbound
Runaway Ramps:
One on left side at 1.9 miles from summit
One on left side at 3 miles from summit
Brake Check Stations:
One at summit
ELEVATIONS
Mile Marker
Elevation
Change in Elevation
Percent Grade
136.3
1,881 ft.
137
1,756 ft.
125 ft.
3.3%
138
1,461 ft.
295 ft.
5.5%
139
1,155 ft.
306 ft.
5.7%
140
866 ft.
289 ft.
5.4%
140.4
720 ft.
146 ft.
6.9%
RECOMMENDED SPEEDS FROM THE GRADE SEVERITY RATING SYSTEM
MAXIMUM TRUCK WEIGHT (POUNDS)
MAXIMUM SAFE SPEED (MPH)
BRAKE TEMP FROM DECLINE (°F)
BRAKE TEMP FROM EMERGENCY STOP (°F)
TOTAL BRAKE TEMP. (°F)
TOTAL TRAVEL TIME (MIN.)
80,000
36
466
32
498
6.8
75,000
45
437
47
484
5.5
*These speeds are based on an average grade from the summit to the base. Some grade segments may be steeper than the average and require a slower speed.
