TDOT: State Route 159/US Highway 321 reopens in Carter and Johnson Counties

State Route 159/US Highway 321 has reopened in Carter and Johnson counties. TDOT spokesperson Mark Nagi confirmed on social media that the highway had reopened for the first time since Hurricane Helene. Crews spent the last 14 months reconstructing twelve and a half miles of the highway. Crews removed debris, relocated utilities, built retaining walls and stabilized the road in the effort to get the road reopened. Some repairs are still underway, and those can be completed with lane closures as needed. As of Monday, TDOT reports 48 of the 49 state-managed roads and bridges that were closed due to Helene have reopened to traffic.