State Route 162 (Pellissippi Parkway) Extension

Overview

The proposed project consists of developing a new controlled-access four-lane highway with a concrete median barrier wall, and grade separated interchanges.

Purpose and Need

Currently, the roadway has several deficiencies. The transportation needs can be summarized as follows.

• Limited mobility options in Blount County and Maryville due to the primarily radial roadway network that now exists
• Poor local road network with substandard cross sections.
• Lack of northwest/east connection of Alcoa and Maryville to help serve:
  • Expanding residential development occurring in eastern Alcoa and the Knoxville area to the north
  • Increasing demand for trips between Maryville and Alcoa, and the Knoxville area to the north
• Safety issues on roadways in the area, including roads in the Maryville core that through-travelers between northern and western portions of the county and the eastern portions of the county must pass and numerous rear-end crashes and angle crashes have been reported due to high volumes of traffic and lack of access management along the roadways
• Traffic congestion and poor levels of service on the major arterial roads in the study area (US 129, SR 33, US 411 and US 321)

The purpose of the project is to improve safety and mobility. The primary benefits include:

• Enhance regional transportation system linkages.
• Improve circumferential mobility by providing travel options to the existing radial roadway network in Blount County, Maryville, and Alcoa.
• Improve roadway safety on the existing roadway network, including the Maryville core.
• Achieve acceptable traffic flows (level of service) on the transportation network or not adversely affect traffic flows on the existing network.

Additionally, the parkway extension is designed to support community and growth management goals and minimize adverse impacts to neighborhoods and businesses, farmlands, and the natural and cultural environment.

The proposed project would be constructed in part with federal funding and is, therefore, subject to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared to meet NEPA requirements. The Record of Decision (ROD) for the proposed project was signed by FHWA on August 31, 2017, and is available in the Library section of this project.  

Project Location Map