Tennessee SR 159/US 321 Reopens After Hurricane Helene Repairs
Key Takeaways
- TDOT reopened 12.5 miles of SR 159/US 321 in Carter and Johnson Counties after Hurricane Helene damage.
- Remaining roadway work can be completed with intermittent lane closures as needed.
- The reopening is second to last after Hurricane Helene, with SR 353 bridge in Washington County still closed.
Tennessee’s State Route 159/U.S. Route 321 through Carter and Johnson Counties has officially reopened following extensive damage caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
Crews worked over the past 14 months to rehabilitate the nearly 12.5-mile section of highway, which included debris removal, relocation of utilities, diversion of the Elk River, construction of retaining walls and rock buttresses and stabilization of the roadway, according to a news release from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).
The highway is open to traffic for the first time since the hurricane, which caused heavy damage at multiple points along the route, according to WJHL.
WJHL reported that some remaining repairs on the highway can be completed with intermittent lane closures as crews finalize work.
The reopening of State Route 159/U.S. Route 321 is the second-to-last segment of roadway or bridge to reopen following closures due to Hurricane Helene, according to TDOT’s release, with the State Route 353 bridge in Washington County still closed and scheduled to reopen in the spring.