SR-44(dry branch road), bridge over morrel creek, LM 4.61 - bridge replacement

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) awarded $521,500 to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) on June 10, 2025, under the Highway Planning and Construction program (CFDA 20.205) to replace a deteriorated bridge on State Route 44 (Dry Branch Road) spanning Morrel Creek at linear mile 4.61. The project deliverable is a single-span concrete box beam bridge with a 39-foot out-to-out width, designed to improve safety and restore structural integrity on the roadway.

In addition to the bridge structure itself, the project includes complementary roadway improvements extending approximately 180 feet west and 329 feet east of the bridge to realign the roadway, taper paved shoulders back into the existing road surface, and ensure proper vertical grade transitions. These ancillary improvements ensure seamless integration of the new bridge infrastructure with existing transportation infrastructure and support the overall objective of the Highway Planning and Construction program to preserve and improve highway infrastructure across Tennessee.

Project description

The proposed bridge is to be a single span concrete box beam bridge with an out-to-out width of thirty-nine feet. The project will extend approximately 180 feet to the west and 329 fee to the east of the structure in order to realign the roadway, taper the paved shoulders back into the existing roadway, and tie into the existing vertical grade.