Crews are working to complete repairs on State Route 56 after slides and washouts heavily damaged the highway. 

Tennessee Department of Transportation spokesperson Jennifer Flynn says the road was damaged in four areas.

“That photo is one of four sites on SR-56 in Grundy County between log miles 25.9 and 26.6 that experienced slides and washouts because of the rains in February. Repairs are underway and nearing completion on three of the sites.”

The section depicted is located at log mile 26.6.

“This is the fourth site and the most complicated one out of the four sites,” said Flynn. “Currently our engineers are working with our geotechnical engineering section to determine the best plan to make permanent repairs. Meanwhile, the roadway will remain reduced to one lane and controlled with temporary traffic signals.”

Drivers are urged to use caution when they travel through this area.

“Our crews are having trouble keeping barrels properly placed to separate the lanes,” said Flynn. “There have been regular instances of the barrels either being stolen, thrown down the embankment or knocked over. Our crews check the area daily and either replace or recover the barrels, but it is impossible to monitor this area 24/7.”

Flynn says TDOT regrets the inconvenience drivers are experiencing, but the only other alternative would be to completely close the road.