**Devastation from Helene Leaves East Tennessee Facing Extensive Road Closures and Repairs**

In the wake of the historic destruction caused by Helene, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is gearing up for an extended period of road closures and significant repair efforts in East Tennessee. TDOT has reported hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and has identified five destroyed bridges in the region, with more bridges set for inspection later this week.

TDOT crews have been working diligently since the initial impact, assessing damage and inspecting state-owned bridges over water across six counties in East Tennessee. Over the first 100 hours, teams reviewed 310 bridges. A major operation in Unicoi County on Monday saw crews removing 58 loads of debris from a single area of Interstate 26.

The hardest-hit counties—Washington, Carter, Unicoi, Johnson, Greene, and Cocke—are experiencing the brunt of the damage, necessitating long-term closures and substantial repairs. Initially, 13 state bridges were closed, but TDOT has since reopened seven of those. Additionally, 25 out of 47 assessed routes have been repaired and made operational again.

Coming up on Thursday, priority will be given to inspecting the 102 locally-owned bridges affected by the storm, with 12 already confirmed washed out or currently closed and another 90 pending assessment.

TDOT has mobilized nearly 400 team members from all four regions to the most affected areas. These include specialists in geotech, surveying, bridge inspection, design, project development, right of way, and field maintenance. Their primary focus remains on restoring connectivity and infrastructure to ensure access to essential services like hospitals, food, shelter, and water.

To expedite the recovery, TDOT has executed four construction contracts and four debris removal contracts, with additional agreements anticipated in the coming weeks. Two alternative delivery advertisements are also underway to hasten infrastructure restoration.

Despite many TDOT crew members being personally affected, with some losing their homes and possessions, their dedication to rebuilding East Tennessee remains unwavering. For ongoing updates on road closures and travel information, TDOT advises checking SmartWay or calling 511. Furthermore, TDOT will continue providing updates through its social media channels.