Commuters heading west on Interstate 40 faced significant delays early Monday morning following a vehicle fire near mile marker 358 in Roane County.

The incident was first reported at 5:40 AM on September 21, 2026, forcing the closure of the westbound right lane and shoulder of the two-lane highway.

The disruption triggered a chain reaction of heavy traffic, leading to a separate congestion advisory reported further back at mile marker 361 just before 7:00 AM. While no lanes were blocked at the congestion checkpoint, motorists experienced residual slowdowns approaching the area.

Drivers traveling through Roane County are advised to allow extra travel time as residual traffic clears.