TDOT Marks One Year Anniversary of Hurricane Helene

On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene swept through East Tennessee, leaving historic levels of devastation. Immediately following the storm, TDOT crews worked countless hours to reopen roadways and bridges and reconnect communities.

Today, 47 of the 49 sections of roadway and bridges that were initially closed due to Helene flooding are back open to traffic. The remaining closures are SR-159/US 321 in Carter/Johnson Counties and the SR-353 bridge in Washington County. SR-159/US 321 is expected to reopen later this Fall, with the SR-353 opening in Spring 2026.

"Our recovery efforts would not have gone as quickly without the assistance of Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly and their passing of the Transportation Modernization Act," said TDOT Commissioner Will Reid. "That legislation provided TDOT with the tools and funds needed to immediately and effectively respond to Hurricane Helene."

In particular, the State's first Progressive Design-Build (PDB) contract expedited the reconstruction of two bridges that Hurricane Helene destroyed. The SR-107/Kinser Bridge in Greene County and the SR-81/Taylor Bridge in Washington County reopened within 8 months. Had the PDB not been in place, those bridges would have taken 2-3 years to rebuild.

TDOT's Communications Division has produced a video to mark the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene. The Road to Recovery: Tennessee's Relentless Response to Helene is available for media use on all their platforms.

TDOT continues to be committed to informing the public of our progress in Helene Recovery. Latest information is available at Hurricane Helene Recovery (tn.gov).