Tennessee – The Tennessee Department of Transportation has announced the reopening of State Route 81 in Washington and Unicoi Counties following months of reconstruction efforts after damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
A 1.1-mile section of the roadway, which had been impassable since September 2024, has been rebuilt.
Repairs included guardrail installation, grade work, rock buttress construction, and final surface paving.
The reopening eliminates a lengthy detour that had added an hour of travel time for over 5,400 vehicles daily.
Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction to roads and bridges across East Tennessee, initially closing 49 sections of state and local routes.
With the reopening of State Route 81, 43 of those roadways have now been restored.
TDOT urges motorists to drive cautiously as maintenance work continues in the area. Baker’s Construction Services, Inc. served as the contractor for the project.