Image Credit: Tennessee Department of Transportation | Facebook & TDOT GIS
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
Bridges and roadways throughout East Tennessee were closed as of Monday after the Tennessee Department of Transportation worked through extensive inspections in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
According to TDOT, 14 bridges are closed, with five of those being completely destroyed. TDOT Deputy Commissioner Will Reid noted that those five bridges will require complete rebuilds.
They still have “hundreds to [inspect]” as they wait for water levels to continue to recede.
27 sections of TDOT roadway are also closed as they continue to work on clearing debris and making repairs. This includes a section of I-40 near the Tennessee-North Carolina border between mile markers 443 and 451.
A mudslide on the North Carolina side of the border left the roadway partially collapsed. Officials say they are working with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to get that repaired as quickly as possible.
The TDOT Strike Force team and bridge inspection crews from West Tennessee have been sent to assist. Bridge inspection crews evaluate bridges to determine whether the structure’s integrity has been compromised. The additional teams will help to speed that process and allow TDOT to reopen routes more quickly.
The Strike Force team is comprised of emergency responders, transportation experts, and engineers who are able to assist with debris removal and determining whether roadways are safe for public travel.
TDOT says they cannot provide a timeframe for repairs, but their priority is to work on “ensuring public safety and reconnecting communities that have been severed.”
Anyone planning to travel through East Tennessee should check TDOT’s Smartway site for up-to-date information on roadway safety.
