State Route 115 (US 129) Alcoa Highway

Overview

The proposed improvements for State Route 115 (US 129/Alcoa Highway), from State Route 35 (Hall Road) to Cherokee Trail, in Blount and Knox Counties, consist of reconstruction and widening for approximately 13 miles.

On the north end, the project essentially follows the existing alignment from State Route 162 (Pellissippi Parkway) to Cherokee Trail. On the south end, the project area between State Route 35 (Hall Road) and South Singleton Station Road will be constructed on new alignment.

Purpose and Need

Alcoa Highway is an urban principal arterial roadway on the National Highway System. The corridor is a major connection between the City of Knoxville and the Cities of Alcoa and Maryville, as well as providing a route to McGhee Tyson Airport and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The section between State Route 35 (Hall Road) and South Singleton Station Road serves multiple functions for commuters, local businesses, and airport traffic. The contrasting priorities along this section and the remainder of the corridor have resulted in negative safety and capacity issues.

The proposed improvements are intended to address transportation needs throughout the corridor, which have been identified through coordination with local officials, agencies, and the public. Those transportation needs are as follows.

• increase the capacity and level of service
• correct roadway deficiencies
• reduce crashes/improve safety

Proposed Design

Due to the significant size of the project, the proposed improvements will be separated into seven smaller sections or phases.

Blount County:

• from State Route 35 (Hall Road) to proposed interchange serving McGhee Tyson Airport
  
• from proposed interchange serving McGhee Tyson Airport to State Route 162 (Pellissippi Pkwy)
• from State Route 162 to existing State Route 115 (Alcoa Highway) at South Singleton Station Road
• from South Singleton Station Road to north of Little River

Knox County:

• from Little River to Cherokee Trail
  
• from north of Little River to south of Maloney Road
• from south of Maloney Road to Woodson Drive
• from Woodson Drive to Cherokee Trail

This is a rendering of Alcoa Highway from Little River to Cherokee Trail.

Relocated Alcoa Highway

The section referred to as "Relocated Alcoa Highway," between SR 35 (Hall Road) and South Singleton Station Road, will shift the alignment to the east of the existing roadway. The new alignment will be a four-lane, controlled-access facility, allowing for two lanes in each direction with no signals or intersections. The newly-constructed roadway will separate local traffic from commuter through-traffic, while the existing facility will continue to provide access to local businesses.

A new interchange will be constructed near SR 335 (Hunt Road) to provide access to McGhee Tyson Airport West Aviation area, Hunt Road, and the City of Alcoa’s planned development, Springbrook Farm.

New interchanges will be constructed at the entrance of McGhee Tyson Airport and Wright Road. Both interchanges will provide access to the section of existing Alcoa Highway referred to as the Motor Mile. The Wright Road interchange will also provide access to Cusick Road.

A new interchange will be constructed at SR 162 (Pellissippi Parkway) to provide continuous movements between Relocated Alcoa Highway and Pellissippi Parkway.

A new pedestrian greenway will be also constructed along sections of Hunt Road, Wright Road, and Cusick Road.

The Relocated Alcoa Highway Flyover video is an animated rendering of the route
between SR 35 (Hall Road) and South Singleton Station Road,
which TDOT plans to reconstruct on new alignment.

Widening of Alcoa Highway

The section of Alcoa Highway between Singleton Station Road and Cherokee Trail will follow the existing alignment, widening the roadway to six lanes (three in each direction) with a concrete median barrier wall.

Interchanges and frontage roads will provide safe access to other local roads, local businesses, and neighborhoods.

In Blount County, frontage roads will be constructed between Singleton Station Road and SR 333 (Topside Road), with interchanges providing access to Topside Road, Singleton Station Road, existing Alcoa Highway (Motor Mile), Pellissippi Parkway, Wright Road, McGhee Tyson Airport, Hunt Road, and Tyson Boulevard.

In Knox County, frontage roads will be constructed between Maloney Road and Woodson Drive, with interchanges providing access to Cherokee Trail, Woodson Drive, Montlake Drive, Mount Vernon Drive, Maloney Drive, SR 168 (John Sevier Highway), and Topside Road.

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