Kinser Bridge Makes Record Reopening In Greene County

A large crowd showed up Friday morning in Greene County to watch the reopening of a vital bridge. Known as the Kinser Bridge, it carries State Route 107 over the Nolichucky River between Greeneville and Erwin. Highway 107 is the primary link between Greene and Unicoi Counties. On September 27, 2024 the bridge was claimed by the Nolichucky River during the flood caused by Hurricane Helene. The bridge normally sits about 60 feet from the surface of the water, but was consumed by the river that day. The bridge being out caused response times for Greene County EMS in that area to double. The county was forced to open a temporary ambulance substation on the other side of the river while the bridge was being rebuilt.

In amazing fashion, what seemed like a monumental task was completed by construction crews in just 238 days. According to TDOT, the bridge is being reopened in record time as it is the quickest a bridge has been completed in the state. The estimated date for completion had been June 23. TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley was on hand along with a host of local, state and federal officials, including US Representative for the First District, Diana Harshbarger during a ceremony marking the bridge’s reopening.  State Senator Steve Southerland joked that he was going to tease TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley for being three minutes late to the ceremony. Southerland said he then realized that Ely was not three minutes late, he was actually a month early.