Gov. Lee Signs Executive Order Allowing TDOT to Clear Non-State Roads

TENNESSEE (January 27, 2026)— Governor Bill Lee has signed an executive order allowing Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) workers to clear non-state roads.

It allows TDOT to work on and clear county roads,  helping utility workers get to trouble spots more quickly. Usually, the agency sticks to federal and state highways.

Read the executive order below:

EXECUTIVE ORDER BY THE GOVERNOR No.111:
AN ORDER AMENDING EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 110 TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION REPAIRS

WHEREAS, on Thursday, January 22, 2026, I issued Executive Order No. 110 declaring a major disaster and state of emergency with respect to severe winter weather in Tennessee beginning on Friday, January 23, 2026; and

WHEREAS, in the days since, additional impacts from the severe winter weather have resulted in significant transportation and utility damage; and

WHEREAS, this Order enhances the contracting authority of the Department of Transportation to allow maximum flexibility to work with local governments to complete necessary repair work.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bill Lee, Governor of the State of Tennessee, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Tennessee Constitution and other applicable law, do hereby declare and recognize a continuing state of emergency and hereby order the extension of Executive Order No. 110 and further direct and order that:

Effective immediately, Executive Order No. 110, dated January 22, 2026, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:
7. The relevant provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated, Titles 12 and 54, and related rules are hereby suspended to the extent necessary to give the Commissioner of Transportation the discretion to procure and award highway construction and engineering contracts on an emergency basis to repair and replace state and local transportation facilities damaged as a result of the severe weather in Tennessee, including emergency award of design-build, construction manager/general
contractor, progressive design build, engineering services, and design-related services contracts; to give the Commissioner of Transportation the discretion to modify or waive any deadlines or procedures for utility relocation necessitated by such emergency highway construction work; to give the Commissioner of Transportation the discretion to provide for debris removal, with Department of Transportation employees or by contract, on non-federal public lands; and to give
the Commissioner of Transportation the discretion to provide for debris removal, with Department of Transportation employees or by contract, as a result of the severe weather in Tennessee where such debris may have originated from State highway right-of-way or may pose a threat to the integrity of state and local transportation facilities. 

Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 shall remain in effect until 11:59 p.m., Central Time, on March 7, 2026, at which time the suspension of any state laws and rules shall cease and be of no further force and effect; provided, however, that Paragraph 5 shall remain in effect until 11 :59 p.m., Central Time, on February 5, 2026.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have subscribed my signature and caused the Great Seal of the
State of Tennessee to be affixed this 27th day of January, 2026.