Waterways

Issues surrounding waterways are housed under the Passenger Transportation, Rail & Freight Division at the Tennessee Department of Transportation which works closely with the ports, terminals, and industries across the State of Tennessee to protect and ensure reliable waterborne commerce on the rivers within the state, as well as the Mississippi River that borders the state. The Passenger Transportation, Rail & Freight Division promotes, advocates, educates, and facilitates growth and reliability of the navigation systems through coordinating efforts with industry, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Congressional Delegates, and other federal, state, and local entities.

Tennessee waterways facts

In 2021, 29.5 million tons of freight valued at $5.6 billion moved on Tennessee’s waterways, which is equivalent to more than 737,000 trucks. Fewer trucks on the roads translates into reduced congestion, emissions, and crashes, and contributes to the state of good repair of highway infrastructure. Tennessee has nearly 950 miles of navigable inland waterways, ranking it 11th in the nation. Inland waterways support Tennessee’s key industries, such as crop production, fabricated metal product manufacturing, waste management, primary metal manufacturing, and utilities. There are five public ports on the Tennessee, Mississippi, and Cumberland Rivers. 

Source: Economic Impact of Tennessee’s Inland Waterways, National Waterways Foundation