TDOT is currently doing road work around the Alcoa Hwy., Hunt Road, and Hall Road interchange. I requested a map of the changes from TDOT. Here is what I received. The notations with green arrows are my additions to better identify some of the changes.

Click image for bigger.

Temporary lane closures -

BLOUNT COUNTY, US 129 North and South between SR 35 Hall Road and Tyson Boulevard:

On Monday, March 18, 2019 through Friday, March 22, 2019,

motorists should be alert for brief traffic stops to occur at various times between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.as crews perform tree removal in this area. Motorists should expect potential delays, be alert for stopped traffic and use extreme caution through this roadway construction project.

TDOT and local municipalities have been pushing for Pellissippi Parkway to extend from Maryville Pike/Knoxville Hwy (SR 33) to Lamar Alexander Highway/US 321(SR 73). The "proposed extension would be approximately 4.4 miles."

As reported in The Daily Times of Maryville,

• In September, 2015, the TDOT Environmental Impact Statement estimated the cost would be $165.7 million.
• In April, 2017, the Knoxville Transportation Planning Organization Mobility Plan estimated the cost would be $194.2 million.
• In August, 2017, TDOT reported to FHWA the estimated cost would be $63.5 million.
• In September, 2017, TDOT reported a new estimated cost of $61.1 million.

Read the full report in The Daily Times. TDOT does try to explain how a road plan estimated cost can drop from $165.7 million to $61.1 million in two years. It appears TDOT has changed methods on how they estimate road project costs.

“It became apparent to TDOT planners and engineers that the [per-mile estimation] method did not provide many customization options for the proposed roadway features that could significantly affect the cost of a project such as roadway and shoulder widths, earthwork, bridges and retaining walls,” [TDOT Community Relations Officer Mark] Nagi said. “TDOT engineers suggested that the results did not provide the level of accuracy needed to compare different project alternatives, and proposed that the department investigate alternative estimation methods at the planning level.”

Huh.

Franklin, TN, is about 15 miles from Nashville, as is Maryville, TN, from Knoxville. Franklin has a transit authority providing public transportation services in the town. In addition, the Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority provides an express service to/from Franklin and Nashville.

Recently, the Franklin Transit Authority overhauled its system, adding 100 new stops, new buses and a new service plan.

The State of Tennessee's recent IMPROVE Act (raising taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel) allows cities to consider local optioins for mass transit funding.

Every morning and evening thousands of people travel to/from Blount County to/from Knox County as is evident on Alcoa Highway and Pellissippi (I-140).

Isn't it about time Maryville, Alcoa, Blount County, Knoxville, and Knox County begin public transporation services to/from Maryville and Knoxville? Could it be we need to start with large employers (e.g. Denso, University of Tennessee, hospitals, etc.) in the areas for express services?

In addition, local transportation services are in need to connect people to Alcoa, Maryville, and the surrounding communities. Wouldn't it be great if you could catch a bus in Alcoa to get to the Blount County Courthouse or your employer or the grocery store or your doctor?

The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Pellissippi Parkway Extension is complete and available from TDOT. The FEIS was approved by the Federal Highway Administration on September 10, 2015.

Go to KnoxViews for more information.

The Maryville City Council is looking to reduce the speed limit on East Lamar Alexander Parkway from the intersection with Washington Street to the city limits near Waters Road (about a quarter mile past Little River Trading Company). The speed limit is currently 50 mph and will be changed to 45 mph.

As part of a recent traffic impact study, it was determined a 45-mph speed limit is more consistent with an urban, curb and gutter roadway with a center turn lane and multiple driveway openings spaced very close together.

The speed limit on East Lamar Alexander Parkway past the Washington Street intersection, towards town, is already 40 mph or less, depending on location.

Now if the City of Alcoa would take a lesson from Maryville and lower the speed limit on Alcoa Highway. Better yet, add a traffic light.

A Community Briefing will be held regarding a change in the route for the Pellissippi Parkway Extension, Alternative A. An environmentally sensitive area, that apparently must be avoided, was found during further studies of the area. The route will be changed near the Kensington Place mobile home community, either 150 feet west into the community or 300 feet east away from the community.

The meeting will be held:

Thursday, May 30, 2013
5 - 7 PM
Rio Revolution Church
3425 E. Lamar ALexander Parkway,
Maryville, TN 37804
(Approx. 10 miles from the airport, 4 miles past Blount Memorial Hospital, out TN-73 E/US-321 N/E Lamar Alexander Pkwy towards Townsend, on the left. If you get to the road going to Heritage High School you have gone too far.)

UPDATE: Pellissippi Parkway Extension (SR 162) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

The comment period for the proposed avoidance shifts has been extended to Saturday, June 15, 2013. Below is a link to the comment form including the June 15th date. Please feel free to share this comment form with others.

Materials presented at the Community Briefing have been posted on the project website - (link...).

TDOT PPE Comment Form

For years there has been discussion on how to make Alcoa Highway a safe road. There is very little control of development along Alcoa Highway from the airport north to Singleton Station Road. There are too many accesses to/from the highway and too many crossovers. It is hard to determine who has control over development, e.g. City of Alcoa, Tenn. Department of Transportation (TDOT), or some other entity.

A frontage road next to Alcoa Highway has gradually been developed to enable access to the many businesses without having to use Alcoa Highway. The current frontage road goes from Starbucks to the Krystal restaurant. When the El Sazon restaurant moved into the old BelAir Grill building, the lot was modified to extend the frontage road.

When Ruby Tuesday built a new restaurant across from Starbucks, it was a surprise that no frontage road was included. Currently Clayton Bank’s new building is going up next to Ruby Tuesday. This new facility appears to be closer to Alcoa Highway than Ruby Tuesday, leaving no room for expansion of Alcoa Highway or a frontage road. There was plenty of room at the back of the lot to build and still be visible. Ruby Tuesday and Clayton are excellent corporate citizens in Blount County. I appreciate their support of our community. Road planning is not their responsibility.

Ruby Tuesday, Courtyard by Marriott hotel, and Clayton Bank are only accessible from Alcoa Highway. If things were planned better these businesses could be accessed from Cusick Road or Payne Avenue could be extended through to Hunt Road. It would appear that the entities controlling development along Alcoa Highway are not looking to the future, nor managing development for the immediate needs along the highway.

Alcoa Highway has not been widened in over 40 years. Whether it be an option to have a frontage road along the entire length of Alcoa Highway or to widen the highway, new business should be planned around either option.

There is no definitive plan to build a bypass around Alcoa Highway. Hopefully a bypass will never come to fruition. Therefore, the City of Alcoa and TDOT should be managing development to allow for a safe Alcoa Highway now, not twenty years from now. Businesses should be required to build in a manner that allows for a continuance of the existing frontage road and/or widening of the existing Alcoa Highway.

The June 21, 2012, Daily Times Op-Ed says, "Light rail to Knox is too logical to be seriously considered."

After discussions with Gary Wynn, a local light rail enthusiast, the Daily Times editorial board thinks using existing railroad lines for light rail to/from Knoxville instead of more, bigger, faster roads is a good idea.

• Northfolk-Southern branch line a good candidate
• Less expensive means of transportation
• A self-supporting transportation authority

We think Wynn’s is a good idea. Once railroad beds are lost, they are never likely to be recovered for that use. We realize that such a simple, practical solution is not likely to be adequately considered. Too many think everything new has to be high tech and high priced until we begin paying for it. Enough money is being spent on development of the old West Plant area to warrant due consideration of light rail for passenger traffic.

CAPPE (Citizens Against Pellissippi Parkway Extension) is holding their annual meeting Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, at 1:30PM.

Blount County Public Library
Dorothy Herron Room A
Sunday, February 26, 2012
1:30 PM to 4:00 PM

CAPPE’s Annual Meeting is your opportunity to make your views known, learn about our plans for the year, and elect Board members. This is the first time we have held the Annual Meeting on a Sunday afternoon.

The program this year has an additional purpose: after our Annual Meeting adjourns, we are hosting the PlanET workshop on strengths and challenges facing our community.

PlanET is a 3-year regional planning initiative that aims to “develop a Regional Plan for Livable Communities, develop regional capacity to improve the quality of life for the residents of this region, and create and implement an ambitious regionwide, multi-jurisdictional plan that will integrate economic development, environment, infrastructure and public health elements in a comprehensive manner to address area needs.” The counties participating in PlanET are Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon, and Union

John Lamb, Blount County Planner, will lead the workshop, during which each participant will have opportunities to identify major assets and challenges for our region. The results of our workshop will be combined by the PlanET staff with the results of other workshops to develop proposals for the future of our region.

CAPPE (Citizens Against Pellisippi Parkway Extension) are holding their 10th annual ChiliFest Saturday, February 4, 2012.

Stovall Family Life Center beside First Church of the Nazarene
1608 E. Broadway, Maryville (near 5 points on Old Knoxville Hwy/Maryville Pike, next to Amburns Humdinger Drive-In Restaurant).
4 PM to 6:30PM

This is both a contest for prizes in four categories (beef, other meats and vegetarian chili) and a community tasting event.

The event begins at 4pm, with tasting and judging continuing until the winners are announced at 6:00pm. In addition to the different chilis and a variety of beverages, tortillas and quesadillas will be available along with a bake sale of delicious home-made treats. Everyone will be eligible to win door prizes.

Suggested donation for admission is $7 at the door (children under 10 admitted free). Admission includes tastes of entries, one bowl of chili and one vote for the People's Choice winner.

For more information, call Mike Cook, CAPPE President 984 9003 or Susan Keller 982 4267.

Keep up-to-date on the latest at FixAlcoaHighway.

KNS Guest Editorial, Alcoa Highway bypass: Bad process leads to bad project

MDT Letter to Editor, Alcoa bypass is not a good solution

The Institute for Transportation Research and Education at North Carolina State Universtiy is looking for participants to contribute opinions on the new Double Crossover Diamond (diverging diamond) intersection at Bessemer and Middlesettments Roads.

This is the new road that goes under the US 129 bypass to/from K-Mart to Lowe's (or wherever).

The institute is trying to assess the operation and safety of the new intersection.

The meeting will be held at the City of Alcoa Service Center (not the Administration building off Hall Road). The City of Alcoa Service Center is located at:

725 Universal Street (off of Wright Road)

Take Springbrook Road, past the pool, past the duck pond, past the school. Take a left on Edison/Wright Road. The City of Alcoa Service Center will be on the right.

The institute has requested interested participants to contact Jessica Smith at jsmith9@ncsu.edu or 919-515-8895. They said the deadline for participation was Thursday, June 16, but I contacted her yesterday, June 19th, and she said I was welcome to attend.

According to the City of Alcoa Public Works and Engineering Department, Grand Opening at the Alcoa City Municipal Building.

Attendees will be able to walk across the bridge after the ceremony.

UPDATE: We checked out the bridge yesterday. Here is a virtual walk across the bridge.

We have posted the 1998 and 2004 TDOT Environmental Assessment reports for the proposed Alcoa Highway improvements at stopalcoaparkway.com.