State Route 66

History and Background

In 2006, TDOT completed a Transportation Planning Report which analyzed existing and projected traffic data and determined the feasibility of proposed improvements along an approximately 5.3-mile segment of SR-66 from SR-34 (US-11E, Andrew Johnson Highway) in the Town of Bulls Gap to the Otes Community in Hawkins County. The 2006 TPR evaluated modifying the existing two-lane road to an upgraded two-lane facility which would match the roadway lane and shoulder width geometrics (two 12-foot travel lanes with 8- to 12-foot shoulders) of the section of SR-66 from the Otes Community to the Town of Rogersville. As part of the 2006 TPR, four options were considered: Option A, Option B, Option C, and the No-Build Option. The 2006 TPR recommended that one of the build options (Option A, Option B, or Option C) be implemented, but did not clearly specify a preference and stated the decision for which option to implement would be based on concurrence from the community and upon further review of both environmental and design data.

Based on the 2006 TPR, the TDOT 2007-2009 Multi-Modal Work Program identified the section of SR-66 from SR 34 (US 11E/Andrew Johnson Highway) in the Town of Bulls Gap to the Otes Community as a substandard rural highway and provided the initial funding for the proposed project's planning, environmental, and preliminary engineering studies. 

Following completion of the 2006 TPR, a set of Right-of-Way Plans (dated 10/02/2019) was developed for the section of SR-66 from SR-34 (US-11E, Andrew Johnson Highway) in Bulls Gap to near Speedwell Road/Old Highway 66. TDOT prepared a D-List Categorical Exclusion (CE) based on the Right-of-Way Plans (dated 10/02/2019) to document the potential impacts associated with the proposed improvements, which was approved by the FHWA on May 6, 2020.

Following the completion of the 2020 D-List CE, TDOT and FHWA determined that due to the anticipated number of relocations, the proposed project no longer qualifies as a D-List CE. Therefore, the proposed project is now being developed as an EA. The EA was approved by FHWA on April 15, 2025.

Need and Purpouse

The need for the proposed SR-66 project has been identified as the following: 

• Existing roadway geometric deficiencies
• Insufficient system linkage
• Need for route redundancy 
• Meet the Legislative Intent of the "Improving Manufacturing, Public Roads, and Opportunities for a Vibrant Economy" (IMPROVE) Act

 The preliminary purpose of the proposed SR-66 project has been identified as the following:

• Improve roadway geometric roadway deficiencies 
• Improve system linkage
• Provide route redundancy 
• Meet the Legislative Intent of the IMPROVE Act

Alternatives Under Study

A No-Build Alternative and one Build Alternative are being evaluated in the Environmental Assessment. Each alternative is described in the subsequent text below.

No-Build Alternative

The No-Build Alternative has been retained for detailed study and serves as a benchmark for comparison against the Build Alternative. The No-Build Alternative would retain the existing state route and roadway configuration throughout the project area except for those modifications to the roadway network that have been programmed and approved for implementation, as identified in TDOT’s 25-Year Long Range Transportation Policy Plan, State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), and the TDOT 10-Year Project Plan and would allow for routine maintenance and safety upgrades.

Build Alternative

The Build Alternative would generally follow the existing SR-66 roadway alignment, except in locations where minor alignment shifts are needed to correct roadway geometric deficiencies. The Build Alternative would also widen the existing two-lane roadway configuration (which currently consists of one 10-foot-wide lane in each direction) to include the following (see Figure 1):

• Two 12-foot travel lanes (one travel lane in each direction) and paved shoulders four- to ten-feet in width.
•  An intermittent 12-foot-wide two-way left-turn lane from SR-34 (US-11E, Andrew Johnson Highway) to north of Goan Drive and from north of Berry Road to near Speedwell Road/Old Highway 66.
•  Five-foot wide sidewalks from SR-34 (US-11E, Andrew Johnson Highway) to north of Goan Drive.
• Intermittent curb and gutter.
• Guardrail, as required.

Once completed, the Build Alternative would provide a consistent typical section along SR-66 from SR-34 (US-11E, Andrew Johnson Highway) to the county seat of Rogersville, as well as provide a link from Rogersville to I-81. The total proposed project length is approximately 5.70 miles.

The Build Alternative is included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-2026 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) as STIP # 23372066043.

Figure 1: Project Location and Typical Section Mapping | Environmental Impacts

Public Involvement and Engagement

This website will be one of the principle means of public involvement and feedback. Public comments concerning this project can also be submitted to: TDOT.Comments@tn.gov.

Scheduled Meetings

TDOT hosted a public hearing on June 5, 2025. The public hearing was held in order to provide the public with an opportunity to provide input on the approved Environmental Assessment prior to completion of the final environmental document and meet the requirements of NEPA. TDOT representatives were also on-hand to answer any questions.

Comments on the Project

Please use the following methods to make a comment or ask a question to the TDOT project team.  Public Comments received or postmarked by June 26, 2025, will be included in the official summary of the public hearing and incorporated into the final environmental document currently under development.

Written Comments:

Send a Comment Card or Letter by mail to: 

State Route 66 | C/O Kimley-Horn and Associates | 10 Lea Avenue, Suite 400 | Nashville, TN 37210

Download a postage paid comment card by clicking here.

Email TDOT.comments@tn.gov using the subject line State Route 66 Project.

Complete an online comment form available at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LMCDDLH

Verbal Comments and Questions:

Record a verbal comment with the court reporter at the June 5, 2025, Public Hearing.

Call (800) 546-0949 (toll-free) - leave a voicemail message with your name, phone number, and question and/or comment. For questions - Please make sure to call the number above by June 19, 2025, to allow TDOT to provide you a response by the June 26, 2025, comment deadline. A TDOT representative will respond within 7 business days.

Previous Meetings

November 12, 2024 - NEPA Public Meeting

TDOT hosted a public meeting to afford the public with an opportunity to provide input and ask questions about the purpose and need of the project and the range of alternatives under consideration. TDOT representatives were also on-hand to answer any questions. 

View the November 12, 2024 Public Meeting Materials by clicking the following links:

Display Map 1 (PDF)

November 12, 2024 Public Meeting Presentation

November 12, 2024 Public Meeting Handout

November 12, 2024 Public Meeting Postage Paid Comment Card

November 12, 2024 Public Meeting Display

As part of the Environmental Assessment, TDOT prepared a SR-66 Public Engagement Summary, which is available in Appendix L of the Environmental Assessment.  The SR-66 Public Engagement Summary includes records of the meetings above as well as a transcript and comment summary of the November 12, 2024, Public Meeting. The final environmental document will also include a summary of comments from the June 5, 2025 Public Hearing, which will be available at a future date.

November 13, 2018 - Design Meeting

Held at Bulls Gap School, 315 Allen Drive, Bulls Gap, Tennessee, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The purpose of the meeting was to share revised preliminary design plans for the proposed improvements to SR 66. Plans were revised following feedback from the November 2016 public meeting. 

Display Map 1 (PDF)
Display Map 2 (PDF)
Display Map 3 (PDF)
Display Map 4 (PDF)

November 12, 2016 - Design Public Meeting

Held at Bulls Gap School, 315 Allen Drive, Bulls Gap, Tennessee, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The purpose of the meeting was to gather public input on the proposed improvements and preliminary design for SR 66.

Right-of-Way Acquisition and Relocation Process

Should a property be acquired, compensation would be at fair market value. The fair market value will be established by using independent real estate appraisers who will prepare, for TDOT’s use, written appraisals using actual sales data in the surrounding community.

When an appraisal is necessary, the appraiser will contact each property owner and offer the owner the opportunity to accompany him/her on an inspection of the property. After the appraisal is complete, the TDOT Right-of-Way Appraisal staff will review, and field check the findings for accuracy to ensure that everything relating to value has been considered in establishing the amount to be offered. Owners of property will be offered fair market value for their property rights, as it is TDOT’s desire to pay fair market value for the necessary property.

TDOT will provide advance notification of proposed right-of-way acquisition. The TDOT Right-of-Way Office has the responsibility, once a project is approved, of appraising, purchasing and, if required, assisting individuals, families or businesses in relocating. Before acquiring property, all properties are appraised based on comparable sales and land use values in the surrounding areas. An information pamphlet, Relocation Assistance Program, outlines the services offered and any payments for which you may be eligible, such as moving expenses and replacement housing benefits for owners and tenants. The pamphlet also outlines the eligibility requirements for receiving these payments. The pamphlet is available for download from the TDOT Relocation Office website.

TDOT will make relocation assistance available to all eligible persons impacted by this project, including residences, businesses, farm operations, non-profit organizations, and those requiring special services or assistance. The TDOT Regional Relocation Staff will administer the relocation program under the rules, policies, and procedures set forth in the Federal Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended, the Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1972, implementing federal regulations, Tennessee Code Annotated 13-11-101 through 119, The State of Tennessee Relocation Assistance Brochure, and Chapter IX of the State of Tennessee Department of Transportation Right-of-Way Manual. 

Additionally, in the event that suitable replacement housing is not available in the immediate SR-66 project area, TDOT will work with individuals to identify alternate options, potentially including the construction of a new home. Both renters and mobile homeowners will also be compensated and will receive assistance from TDOT in the identification of, and relocation of their home to, a new location. Businesses subject to relocation under the Build Alternative will be compensated for their relocation to a new location including moving costs, incidentals, and the cost to reestablish the business in a new location.

If you have a question regarding the TDOT Relocation process, please call 1-800-546-0949 (toll-free) and leave a voicemail message with your name, phone number and question. A TDOT representative will respond to questions within 7 business days.

Timeline

Transportation projects are developed in four phases: Planning and Environmental Design, Design, Right-of-Way, and Construction. The following is an estimated timeline for various aspects of the proposed project.

Initiate Early Coordination: Quarter 3 of 2024

Conduct Environmental Technical Studies: Quarter 4 of 2024

Public Meeting: November 12, 2024

Notice of Availability/EA Approval: Quarter 2 of 2025

Hold NEPA Public Hearing: June 5, 2025

Approval of Final Environmental Document/Selection of Preferred Alternative: Quarter 3 of 2025

Right-of-Way Acquisition Phase: 2026

Construction Phase: 2030        

*Quarter 1 – January through March.

  Quarter 2 – April through June.

  Quarter 3 – July through September.

  Quarter 4 – October through December

**Forecasted dates are subject to change.

***Once the final environmental document is approved by the Federal Highway Administration, the Planning and Environmental Phase is complete.