UNICOI COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — For the first time since Hurricane Helene, State Route 81 has reconnected Washington and Unicoi counties, the Tennessee Department of Transportation announced.
A 1.1-mile section of SR-81 was completed with guardrail installation, grade work, the construction of rock buttresses and final surface paving on Friday.
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The completed stretch of highway will reduce the one-hour detour over 5,400 motorists have taken daily since the hurricane.
TDOT contracted Baker’s Construction Services to complete the mile-long project. The company said on social media Friday the competition came two months early…