State Route 162 (Pellissippi Parkway) at Hardin Valley Road

Overview

The project along State Route 162 (Pellissippi Parkway) at the Hardin Valley Road interchange in Knox County involves modification of the existing interchange covering approximately 0.6 miles.

Purpose and Need

The existing interchange consists of Pellissippi Parkway, a four-lane divided highway, and Hardin Valley Road, a four-lane divided roadway with left turn lanes. The configuration is similar to a partial cloverleaf design with traffic entering and exiting Pellissippi Parkway on the south side of the interchange.

Located west of Knoxville, the area around the interchange is heavily populated with commercial and residential developments, as well as Pellissippi State Community College.

In the current configuration, motorists traveling west on Hardin Valley Road must turn left, crossing oncoming traffic, to access Pellissippi Parkway via northbound or southbound ramps. Additionally, the ramps to/from Pellissippi Parkway include abrupt curves. These two conditions cause traffic to back up on Hardin Valley Road and Pellissippi Parkway.

The planned improvements are designed to improve the safety and operation of the interchange by increasing capacity, correcting geometric deficiencies, and reducing congestion.

Design

The planned project consists of extending the on- and off-ramps to/from Pellissippi Parkway. Concrete walls will be added along the northbound and southbound ramps. An additional on-ramp lane will be constructed for northbound parkway traffic.

Hardin Valley Road will be widened to provide an additional turn lane for westbound traffic to access the newly constructed, two-lane northbound parkway ramp. Widening will also extend the turn lane for westbound traffic to access the southbound parkway ramp.

Additionally, construction will include a crash wall and a retaining wall for the parkway overpass bridge, as well as curb and gutter and drainage work. The entrance to the shopping center (northeast of the interchange) will also be reconstructed to accommodate the Hardin Valley Road widening.

New traffic signals will be installed at the interchange.

NOTE: The greenway located near the on-ramp to Pellissippi Parkway South should have little to no impact from construction.