Volunteer State News

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has awarded contracts for the reconstruction of three bridges in East Tennessee, which were destroyed by Hurricane Helene last September. Two Alternative Delivery contracts have been issued to facilitate these projects.

Kiewit Infrastructure South Co., based in Brentwood, Tennessee, secured a Progressive Design-Build (PDB) contract for the SR-81 bridge in Washington County and the SR-107 bridge in Greene County. The total cost for this project is $56,546,444.33. The construction phase is set on an expedited schedule with both bridges expected to be operational before the end of June.

In addition, Summers-Taylor, Inc., from Johnson City, Tennessee, has been awarded a Design-Build (DB) contract for reconstructing the SR-353 bridge in Washington County. This project is valued at $20,970,200.00 and aims to have the bridge open by May 2026.

These bridges over the Nolichucky River are vital for residents of Greene and Washington Counties as they connect communities like Greeneville, Jonesborough, and Erwin.

The projects are part of efforts made possible by the Transportation Modernization Act (TMA). The PDB approach allows design and construction phases to overlap for faster completion through continuous collaboration among all parties involved.

Design-Build is another method being utilized by TDOT to expedite project delivery. It integrates various phases such as design, right-of-way acquisition, regulatory permit approvals, utility relocation, and construction into a single contract.

Federal reimbursement totaling $510 million has been allocated for repairing damages caused by Hurricane Helene. TDOT has received $102 million so far.

For more information about recovery efforts related to Hurricane Helene, visit: https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/hurricane-helene-recovery.html.