Tennessee – Less than a year after Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction in East Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has reopened the State Route 107/Sgt. Elbert Kinser Bridge in Greene County—nearly a month ahead of schedule.
The bridge officially reopened on Friday, May 23, marking a major milestone in the region’s recovery. The SR-107 and SR-81 bridge reconstruction projects were TDOT’s first-ever to utilize the Progressive Design-Build (PDB) method, a streamlined construction approach that allows design and construction to overlap.
“This was the quickest project delivery of a major river crossing in TDOT’s history,” said Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “Using the Progressive Design-Build method, we finished in just seven and a half months. It’s about having the right tool for the right job.”
Eley credited the success to a combination of factors, including the use of PDB, the emergency nature of the work, and the ability to rebuild the bridge without accommodating live traffic. The bridge carries an average of more than 11,000 vehicles per day.
The reopening of the SR-107 bridge brings the number of reopened roads and bridges damaged by Hurricane Helene to 45 out of 49. That number will increase to 46 on Sunday, May 25, with the reopening of the SR-81 bridge in Washington County.
The original completion date for both bridges was June 23, 2025. Thanks to the 2023 Transportation Modernization Act, TDOT was granted the legislative authority to use PDB, which encourages collaboration and speeds up project delivery.
The SR-107 bridge has been rededicated in honor of Sgt. Elbert Kinser, a Greeneville native and World War II Medal of Honor recipient. Sgt. Kinser was killed in action during the Battle for Okinawa in May 1945 when he sacrificed his life by jumping on a grenade to save fellow Marines.
Motorists are advised to drive with caution in the area as final painting and striping continue. Temporary lane closures and crews will remain present in the coming weeks.
The project contractor, Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. of Brentwood, Tennessee, is also donating $100,000 to Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) in East Tennessee to support ongoing hurricane recovery efforts. The combined cost of the SR-107 and SR-81 bridge projects is just over $56.5 million.