SR-81 and SR-107 Emergency Bridge Replacements

The SR-81 and SR-107 Emergency Bridge Replacements project restored critical transportation links following the destruction of the Taylor Bridge (SR-81) and Kinser Bridge (SR-107) during a major storm event. The loss of these structures significantly impacted access for residents in Greeneville, Jonesborough and Erwin, making rapid replacement essential to reconnect communities and support recovery efforts.

To accelerate delivery, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) implemented a Progressive Design-Build (PDB) approach, enabling close coordination between designers, contractors and stakeholders. This collaborative process allowed design and construction to advance concurrently, supporting efficient decision-making under emergency conditions.

Benesch served as the lead engineer for preliminary bridge design and superstructure design for both bridges, as well as hydraulic design for the SR-107 crossing. The SR-81 bridge was designed as a five-span concrete box girder structure approximately 470 feet in length, while the SR-107 bridge was designed as a six-span concrete bulb-tee beam bridge approximately 635 feet long. The designs were optimized for rapid fabrication and installation while maintaining hydraulic performance and long-term resilience.

The project also included environmental permitting, geotechnical exploration and engineering coordination, with a focus on minimizing additional impacts such as right-of-way acquisition and effects to surrounding environmental features.

Due to the emergency nature of the project, both bridges were replaced on an accelerated schedule. Through the use of the PDB delivery method and continuous coordination, construction was completed ahead of schedule, allowing the bridges to reopen less than a year later.

The completed project restored essential transportation routes, improved system resilience and provided reliable infrastructure to support the long-term needs of the surrounding communities.