KNOXVILLE — The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced the launch of its Rural Service Patrol (RSP) in Region 1 in East Tennessee on Thursday, May 28, marking the next phase of a statewide expansion to bring HELP incident response to rural interstate corridors. This launch provides dedicated roadside assistance, expedited clearance support, and enhanced safety coverage in Tennessee’s heavily traveled rural areas.
Currently, TDOT’s HELP trucks patrol the state’s four largest urban areas: Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Memphis. The Rural Service Patrol will be fully deployed statewide by Summer 2026, ultimately covering more than 870 miles of rural interstate.
None of these interstate highways enter Hawkins County, but do serve the county along its eastern (I-26, near Allandale) and southern (I-81, near Bulls Gap) peripheries…