Last Updated on December 2, 2025 3:33 pm
ELK MILLS, Tenn. — A critical stretch of U.S. 321 reopened to traffic Monday, 14 months after Hurricane Helene devastated the route through Carter and Johnson counties.
The 12.49-mile section between Vilas, N.C., and Watauga Lake was the last major roadway in the region still closed following the Sept. 27, 2024, storm. Baker's Construction Services of Bluff City completed the $10 million emergency reconstruction project.
Good news! SR 159/US 321 in Carter/Johnson Counties is back open to motorists for the first time since that roadway was heavily damaged in multiple locations by Hurricane Helene on September 27, 2024. 48 of the 49 sections of roadway and bridges that were initially closed due to Helene flooding are now back open to traffic.
— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagiTDOT) December 2, 2025
The reopening marks a milestone in regional recovery efforts. Of 49 road and bridge sections initially closed by Helene flooding, 48 are now back in service. Only the SR-353 bridge in Washington County remains closed, with reopening expected in spring 2026.
SR 159/US 321 in Carter/Johnson Counties back open to traffic.
— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagiTDOT) December 1, 2025
The project included diverting the Elk River, relocating utilities, building retaining walls and rock buttresses, repairing bridges, and repaving damaged sections. Several portions of the route opened to local traffic during construction, but the final segment near Greggs Branch Road in Johnson County was completed late last week.
Baker's Construction was awarded the contract in late 2024. Work was originally scheduled for completion by Labor Day 2025, but delays pushed the timeline back to the end of the year.
Over the last 14 months, SR 159/US 321 has seen major reconstruction activity along this 12.49-mile section of roadway.
— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagiTDOT) December 1, 2025
The 24-mile corridor serves as a vital connection between western North Carolina and northeast Tennessee, providing access to the Watauga Lake area and surrounding communities.
Photos: Baker's Construction Services
