Newport Bypass work continues

Work is continuing on the Newport Bypass (State Route 35, US 321), which is a major corridor from Greeneville to Maryville. Because those passing through on SR 35 must drive through downtown Newport, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is building the bypass as a safer, more efficient route for travelers to pass through Newport and bypass traffic downtown.

The bypass will consist of 4.75 miles of entirely new alignment. The project includes drainage, grading, construction of four Bulb-Tee beam bridges, signals and paving on SR 35 to SR 9 to Saint Tide Hollow Road. Two of the bridges are located along the five-lane section of improvement with the first bridge crossing Stinking Creek and the second bridge crossing Lisega Boulevard, Norfolk Southern Railroad and the Pigeon River. The other two bridges are located along the interim two-lane section with one crossing the French Broad River Flood Channel and the other crossing the French Broad River itself.

According to TDOT, Summers Taylor is constructing Bridge 2, Bent 1 footings. Contractors are working with Railroad Protective Services. Blalock Construction is constructing Bridge 1. Bridge 3 and Bridge 4 are mostly complete. Earthwork is an ongoing part of the project.

The new alignment will begin 250 feet east of SR 9’s intersection with Thinwood Drive in Newport. The proposed improvement will consist of four 12-foot travel lanes, two in each direction, with a 12-foot center turn lane and 12-foot shoulders (10 feet paved). The project will extend to the east from the intersection of State Route 9 (US 70) to Rankin Road, approximately 2.4 miles. From Rankin Road to the project terminus, just south of Saint Tide Hollow Road, approximately 2.3 miles, the improvement will include two twelve-foot travel lanes, one in each direction, with 12-foot shoulders (10 feet paved). If traffic demand increases for this section, TDOT has purchased enough ROW to be able to construct additional lanes in the future when traffic warrants.

The project also includes two new proposed signal installations at the intersections of proposed SR 35 and SR 9 (US 70) and at the intersection of proposed SR 35 and SR 32 (US 25E).

Work got underway in Spring 2022 and estimated completion is expected for Fall 2025.