Tennessee – The Tennessee Department of Transportation has awarded two Alternative Delivery contracts for the reconstruction of three East Tennessee bridges that were destroyed by Hurricane Helene in September.
After successful negotiations on the Guaranteed Maximum Price, TDOT awarded a Progressive Design-Build contract to Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. of Brentwood, Tennessee. This contract, worth $56,546,444.33, covers the rebuilding of the SR-81 bridge in Washington County and the SR-107 bridge in Greene County. Both bridges are on an expedited construction schedule and are expected to open before the end of June.
Additionally, a Design-Build contract for the reconstruction of the SR-353 bridge in Washington County was awarded to Summers-Taylor, Inc. of Johnson City, Tennessee, for a total of $20,970,200.00. The SR-353 bridge is expected to open before the end of May 2026.
These bridge replacements are vital to residents of Greene and Washington counties, as they connect the communities of Greeneville, Jonesborough, and Erwin.
The project is made possible by the Transportation Modernization Act (TMA), which utilizes the Progressive Design-Build approach. This method enables the design and construction phases to overlap, promoting collaboration among the owner, designers, and builders, ultimately leading to faster project completion.
The Design-Build method integrates portions of the design and construction phases, including design, right-of-way acquisition, regulatory permits, utility relocation, and construction, into a single contract. This approach helps expedite project delivery and streamline design processes.
Federal reimbursement has been allocated to cover the $510 million cost to repair the damages caused by the hurricane, with TDOT having already received $102 million.