Lochner Helps Restore Critical Routes After Hurricane Helene
In September 2024, Hurricane Helene brought devastating flooding to East Tennessee, washing out entire sections of State Routes 81 and 36 and leaving communities isolated. SR 81, along the Nolichucky River, and SR 36, along Spivey Creek, suffered major washouts, slope failures, and damaged drainage systems, cutting off access for residents, schools, and businesses. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) turned to Lochner as a trusted emergency response partner, tasking the team with delivering construction-ready restoration plans in just three weeks.
The project team quickly mobilized to assess site conditions and address complex geotechnical, hydraulic, and environmental challenges caused by unstable terrain and eroded slopes. Using pre-flood LiDAR and statewide asset data, SR 81 and SR 36 were designed to meet Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requirements. Resilient designs included rock buttresses, gabion walls, soil nailing, graded solid rock roadbeds, and upgraded drainage systems.
By leveraging LiDAR data while field surveys were still underway, the team avoided inaccuracies from flood-damaged terrain, keeping recovery moving forward. Lochner also coordinated environmental, right-of-way, and permitting requirements with TDOT and other consultants, maintaining long-term stability and regulatory compliance.
Through rapid response and resilient design, Lochner helped TDOT restore vital connections and support the communities that rely on them every day. The restored corridors are strengthened to better withstand future flooding and help TDOT meet FEMA requirements for emergency relief funding.
Reflecting on the project, Keven McCloskey, Tennessee Design Lead said, “Helping restore connectivity in the wake of Hurricane Helene was more than a professional challenge. It was an urgent mission to reconnect lives and livelihoods. Working alongside TDOT and an incredible team under intense timelines reminded us why we chose careers in engineering and transportation. It was an opportunity to step up when communities needed us most, to collaborate with purpose, and to deliver lasting, meaningful solutions.”