Topography, Geology, Weather & Water Highway See

With so many roads to travel on throughout Tennessee, it’s rare that one would give much thought to what engineering marvels they actually are. Tennessee’s geography, topography, water and weather all vary from region to region, creating unique challenges to solve as roads are built and maintained.

In this episode of Highway See, Chris ties all these puzzle pieces together to tell the story of how Tennessee’s roadway system came to be despite unique environmental factors:


The seven different topographical regions of Tennessee
The geotechnical expertise needed for new construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, and retaining walls
The challenges of building roads in West Tennessee
How limestone in the central basin of Middle Tennessee impacts roads
East Tennessee’s challenging history of road construction
The tunnels of Tennessee
Why TDOT must work with nature and not against it
The TVA Act and the rise of dam construction
The origins of pothole formation
How Tennessee’s rapidly changing weather impacts transportation

Links Referenced:


Sequatchie Valley: https://sequatchievalleyscenicbyway.com/
Tennessee Valley: https://www.loc.gov/item/2008628288/
seven physiographic zones: https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/geologic-zones/
Harry: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2019/07/16/east-tennessee-rockslides-expert-department-of-transportation-harry-moore/1706574001/
highwaysee.com: https://highwaysee.com
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