Site of bridge washout on Highway 30.
Flooding is seen on Highway 130 near Dayton.Tennessee Department of Transportation officials say State Route 30 in Rhea County was reopened Tuesday after repairs for flood damage were completed.
But damage to State Route 156 in Marion County could take a month to repair.
TDOT spokeswoman Jennifer Flynn said crews started repairs early Saturday on Highway 30, completed the work around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and traffic resumed normal flow.
Heavy rains early on Christmas Eve overwhelmed and washed out a culvert over Rattan Branch on Highway 30 at New Union Road, Flynn said. Once the culvert failed, the entire section of road collapsed at the culvert, Flynn said.
The washed-out culvert led to the drowning of 22-year-old Dakota E. Howard when his vehicle plunged into the ravine left by floodwaters, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Howard's passenger, 22-year-old Dustin Smith, was injured but survived.
At the time, TDOT officials expected repairs to take up to two weeks, but crews proved quicker than anticipated.
Meanwhile, TDOT officials will be working for the next month to repair flood damage on State Route 156 around the 12-mile marker between Haletown and South Pittsburg in Marion County.
Since Christmas, the eastbound lane at that location has settled 15 to 20 inches, leading to the closing of the lane, Flynn said. A temporary traffic signal is controlling the flow of vehicles for now, she said.
Officials met with the TDOT's Geotechnical Section on Tuesday to evaluate the damage.
"A geotechnical report will be forthcoming with final recommendations, but the roadway will be excavated and replaced with a rock buttress to stabilize the [shoulder]," Flynn said.
Flynn said crews will start work Monday on repairs expected to take five clear days to construct the buttress. Work to install an extended, 35-to-40-foot drain pipe across the road, new guardrails and new pavement at that location will continue until the end of January, she said. Temporary signals and flaggers will control traffic during the work.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/BenBentonor www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.