 Just beyond its intersection with Patton School Road, SR 156 descends more than from the edge of the plateau into the Sequatchie Valley, where it enters South Pittsburg.It follows 2nd Street through the city's downtown area before briefly merging with the former route of U.S. Route 72/Tennessee State Route 27, veering north along Cedar Avenue for several blocks, and then turning eastward again to have an interchange with the current expressway alignment.SR 156 crosses the Tennessee River via the steel arch Shelby Rhinehart Bridge.