Consultants recommend highway alignment for Tweetsie Trail segment; public meeting, easement negotiations next

Consultants working on the Tweetsie Trail master plan presented a progress update to the Carter County Commission, recommending that the county favor the former highway alignment over the historic railroad route for several segments.

The consultant, identified in the meeting as David, said, “So all of these things taken together suggest that the best route is to follow the old highway route.” He described specific safety and constructability issues on the railroad alignment, including sections that would place pedestrians immediately behind the Highway 19E guardrail and areas with eroded banks that would require stabilization.

Why it matters: the choice of alignment affects cost, right‑of‑way needs and safety planning. The presentation included concept‑level cost columns and segment descriptions for Elizabethton, the highway alternate, Valley Forge…