The tunnels are north of Interstate 81 just below Bluefield, WV.
The accident took place just north of the NC line.
Judging by past experience, I think it is about a 9% grade for maybe 10 miles or so.
I have driven it hundreds of times, about half of the downhill times were late at night.
The downhill part starts about 10 or 15 miles north of the NC line. The road is very good. Four lane, smooth, curves are easily made at 70 MPH.
Traffic moves at 60 MPH or better regardless of the weather. I have gone down the mountain when I had to stretch my neck to keep the fog line in sight because vision ahead of the vehicle was only 20 ft. or so at best and less most of the time.
Why drive 60 MPH in weather like that? Because if you don’t some guy behind you will rear end you.
At that, I have had big trucks pass me.
In bad weather, that is one very very dangerous stretch of road.
Correction: Two lanes going down hill.
Fog is one problem. Wind is another. You should try it under a wind advisory. The majority of the incline was blasted out of granite on a steep mountain on the front edge of the escarpment, going from essentially high plateau to mountain pass, rapid descent and then Piedmont below in NC. The weather changes, so fog or wind are frequent. Not unusual at all to see semis blown over onto their sides. Really pretty view to the southwest along the front of the Blue Ridge down into NC coming out of the gap, though. I like driving it in good weather. I avoid it in bad.
Is that the stretch with the incredible view to the left as you are heading south? I’ve driven that road 40 times easy and that view is awesome...(when it’s clear and sunny).