Tenn. Code Ann. § 54-9-211: Inspection by department of transportation - Payments to contractor

(a) From time to time the department of transportation shall inspect the work as it progresses on the project.

(b) On all county road and highway projects, the contractor shall be entitled to payments on account of the contractor's contract in the same way and manner as payments are made to contractors performing state highway contracts, but no payments shall be made until the state engineer certifies that the work of the contractor, for which the contractor claims payment, has been satisfactorily performed in accordance with the contract.