Unicoi bridge repairs finished ahead of schedule

A bridge on Unicoi Drive over North Indian Creek that has been closed to traffic since November 2025 has reopened ahead of schedule. The Tennessee Department of Transportation announced the bridge was making great progress last week, but that there were still some finsihing touches that needed to be made before construction crews were completely finished with the project. The bridge replacement project began Nov. 17, 2025, and was initially scheduled to keep the bridge closed through December 2026, with the possibility of construction extending into January 2027 depending on weather and other factors. Mark Nagi, TDOT regional communications officer, said crews are now nearing the end of the project a little ahead of schedule. "(There's) still some more "punch list" items, but nothing that should require lane closures," Nagi said. "It's fully open to traffic." Although the bridge may have appeared completely finished to motorists passing through the area for a few weeks, Nagi said several important steps remained before it could totally reopen to traffic. "Passersby and motorists might see the bridge in its current condition and think it is complete, but there is still a little more work to be done," Nagi said. Crews recently completed work on the bridge deck, including grinding the surface to meet TDOT's smoothness requirements and addied grooves to the deck. Nagi said these two final pieces of major work serves both comfort and safety purposes. "These two activities will provide a smooth, comfortable ride for the public while creating the necessary surface texture for traction, so that the surface is not slippery when wet," he said. Crews are now working to install the project's final pavement markings and necessary signage before the bridge can be considered fully reopened. The closure has required motorists traveling between Unicoi and Erwin to use detours during the nearly yearlong project. When the closure began, TDOT directed traffic around the work zone using Interstate 26 between Exit 32 at State Route 173/Unicoi Road and Exit 37 at Erwin/Jonesborough. State Route 107 and State Route 173 were also reduced to one lane with a temporary traffic signal between Unicoi Drive and Washington Street.