Tennessee DOT officials describe rapid response and recovery after Hurricane Helene

Tennessee Department of Transportation officials told the House Transportation Committee on Feb. 11 that crews, regional response teams and a new contracting authority enabled a fast statewide response to Hurricane Helene, which closed dozens of routes and washed away several bridges in late September 2024.

The update focused on immediate life-safety work, debris removal and expedited contracting enabled by the Transportation Modernization Act. "Our people reacted with Hurricane Helene in a way that was unbelievable," Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Healy said, describing crews who entered flooded areas to rescue motorists and restore connectivity.

Committee members were shown video of the response and heard regional directors explain how Tennessee coordinated inspections, heavy equipment crews and temporary repairs. "It was an historic event and it required a historic response," said Steve Bridal, the TDOT Region 1 director, describing high river flows, large debris fields and roads that were ``completely gone.'' Bridal told the committee the…