(The Center Square) – More than a year after Hurricane Helene left a path of destruction in East Tennessee, only one bridge is still undergoing repairs, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Transportation officials said that a bridge on State Route 353 over the Nolichucky River in Washington County should reopen in spring 2026. The department reopened State Route 159 and U.S. 321 in Carter and Johnson counties last week.
The September 2024 storm caused $314.6 million in damages to East Tennessee bridges and roads, according to Mark Nagi, the Tennessee Department of Transportation regional communications officer for East Tennessee.
The state received $280.3 million in federal funds for road and bridge repairs as of Dec. 3, Nagi said.
“Please note that these figures are fluid and will continue to be revised as repair work is completed and as we continue to determine eligibility for each damage site,” Nagi said.
Two highways on the Tennessee-North Carolina border were severely damaged. The I-26 bridge over the Nolichucky River collapsed, and the roadway on I-40 collapsed due to the heavy rain during the storm.
The Tennessee General Assembly added $450 million in hurricane relief funds in a special legislative session held in January.
The largest chunk, $240 million, put additional money in Tennessee’s existing disaster relief fund and reduced the local cost share for cities and counties from 12.5% to 5%. Another $110 million was allocated to create a new fund to help local governments manage loan interest for recovery costs. A new program will provide flexible financial resources for future emergencies with $100 million in funding, Gov. Bill Lee’s office said in its presentation to the General Assembly.
No hurricanes reached land in the Southeast in 2025. Nagi said the Transportation Department is always prepared in case another disaster strikes.
“We constantly monitor weather forecasts and plan accordingly for winter weather, wildfires, rockslides, floods, or anything else that we see weather-wise in East Tennessee,” Nagi said. “Our crews stay on the job as long as needed during events like these.”
