There’s a new road project in the works for Powell and an expansion of a previously announced project.
Beaver Creek Road at Clinton Highway intersection will get a major revision starting in 2025, and Knox County Commission has funded widening of W. Emory Road from Clinton Highway to the new Belltown development. We previously wrote about the widening of W. Emory at Belltown here.
Design of improvements to Clinton Highway at Beaver Creek Road.
A Smithbilt project, Belltown is under construction now on both sides of W. Emory which will be widened at Belltown with a turn lane at developer’s expense. A traffic signal is planned for the main entrance. The development includes 300 acres with a 40-plus acre park along Beaver Creek. The public park will feature trails, picnic spots, a dog park, kayak launch and sports fields.
Updates on road projects were the topic at the September 10, 2024, meeting of the Powell Business and Professional Association. Steve Borden, director for the Tennessee Department of Transportation Region 1, and Cathy Olsen, operations director for Knox County Engineering and Public Works, spoke. Borden said some 900 projects competed for 90 spots in the current TDOT capital plan. “We look for low-cost improvements.”
Schaad Road – Olsen said this county-funded project will cost upwards of $100 million by completion, but the county will have a safe, four-laned north-to-west connector from Clinton Highway to Lovell Road. The contractor is saying 6-to-8-weeks on the current phase, along Ball Camp Road to Middlebrook Pike at Lovell. “Full traffic on the south side.” Three more phases remain in the 30-year project, which we wrote about here.
Pedestrian bridge over Beaver Creek – Expect construction to start “late next year” on this bridge somewhere near Powell High School, Olsen said. Knox County received grant funding to connect sidewalks on E. Emory Road with those on Powell Drive and Beaver Creek Road. The bridge also will be an evacuation path for Powell High School students to Crown College in an emergency. Our story here.
Emory Road at I-75 – Long-awaited upgrades should start in 2025, Borden said. As Dr. Wes Dean noted later, “He did not say whether January or December.” This project is funded and awaits right-of-way acquisition for what’s called “backage roads,” a part of the design. The “diverging diamond” ramps will move traffic quickly onto Emory Road toward either Halls or Powell. Borden estimated completion in 24-28 months once started. 50-page slide show here: TDOT Update – PBPA 9-10-24
Sharps Gap – A $600 million project to realign and modernize the interchanges of interstates 75, 275 and 640 is ahead. Borden said it’s driven by Knox County’s increased population. “We’ve seen 16% growth from 2020 to 2024.”
I-40/75 corridor – Big project on the drawing board – modernize (and probably widen) interstate through Knox County, west from 640 to Knox/ Loudon county line. This ties in to …
Choice lanes – new name for toll roads. Borden said a study is underway and I-24 in Nashville will be the first project. He said Knox County currently lacks traffic volume to attract private investment.
Weigh station – The weigh station just past the Watt Road interchange on 40/75 will be closed and replaced with perhaps 1, 2 or 3 stations. “This was an ideal site when constructed,” he said, to catch both north/south and east/west traffic, but congestion has overtaken the benefits.
Rebuild bridge over French Broad River – over Douglas Lake in Jefferson County. No timeline on this.
Gay Street Bridge – In response to a question, Borden said the currently closed bridge is owned by the city of Knoxville. “The city is currently evaluating our inspection report.”
Sandra Clark is founder of Knox TN Today.