Tenn. Code Ann. § 54-11-306: Free ferries and ferry roads on navigable rivers

(a) The county legislative body has the power to make appropriations of money for the establishment of ferries and ferry roads on any of the navigable streams of this state, and also for the construction of all proper and necessary roads, leading across the river bottom lands, and up and down the river banks to the ferries.

(b) When the ferries and ferry roads are established, they may be declared by the legislative body free to the general public or to the citizens of the county or counties in which they are located.