State Route 162 (Pellissippi Parkway) Extension

Build Alternatives

Various construction options, or Build Alternatives, were studied regarding the proposed Pellissippi Parkway Extension. The primary goal of selecting a Build Alternative is to avoid or minimize socio-economic and natural environment impacts to the greatest possible extent. In 2012, a Preferred Alternative was selected.

Modification of the Preferred Alternative

Following the selection of the Preferred Alternative in 2012, the Phase II archaeological investigations revealed one site that has been determined to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Since the Preferred Alternative had already been analyzed and selected over the other Build Alternatives, TDOT focused on identifying potential avoidance options via minor alignment shifts in the vicinity of the sensitive portion of the eligible archaeology site, rather than major shifts of the alignment. TDOT identified and investigated two possible minor shifts in the route of the Preferred Alternative, between Davis Ford Road and US 321/SR 73 (the southern end of the project). TDOT investigated potential archaeology, noise, ecology, farmland, relocations, and environmental justice impacts for each shift.

The two minor alignment shifts considered are identified below. (To view an illustration of the alignment shifts, click here.) 

• The east alignment shift would move the right of way approximately 300 feet eastward, away from the Kensington Place mobile home community and toward the developing Sweetgrass Plantation subdivision.
• The west alignment shift would move the right of way approximately 150 feet to the west into the Kensington Place mobile home community. The overall length of the west shift is shorter and the amount of right of way required is less. The west shift also minimizes the impacts to the operations of two active farms.

The design features of each alignment shift would be the same as defined for the Preferred Alternative: a four-lane divided roadway with a 48-foot depressed median. The avoidance shifts would each be about 1.4 miles in length.

The two potential alignment shifts, and the impacts of these shifts, were presented to the public at a Community Briefing held on May 30, 2013, in the project area. The meeting was attended by 136 persons, and approximately 150 comments were received.

On July 29, 2013, TDOT announced the west alignment shift at the southern end of the project had been selected to modify the Preferred Alternative. In making the determination of the alignment shift, TDOT considered the amount and type of impacts of each shift and the potential to mitigate adverse effects. TDOT also gave consideration to public input received during the May 30th Community Briefing and the associated comment period.

The reasons for the selection of the west alignment shift are as follows.

• The west alignment shift minimizes impacts to the operations of two active farms.
• The west alignment shift is farther away from a recently constructed church, thus minimizing potential impacts to church access.
  
• With either alignment shift, Kensington Place residents would experience increased noise levels compared to the no-build scenario.
  
  • With the east alignment shift, the mobile home community would not be eligible for a noise barrier.
    
  • With the west alignment shift, the mobile home community would be eligible for a noise barrier that will reduce noise and visual impacts provided that the majority of benefited residents and property owner(s) approve. TDOT will also allow the Kensington Place residents to have input on landscaping and color/patterns for the noise barrier.
• Though the west alignment shift increases impacts to streams, wetlands, and floodplains, these will be minimized during the design and permitting process of the project.
• Since the mobile home community is not completely occupied, any displaced resident who wants to stay within their existing community may be able to relocate to one of the numerous site pads available, if they so choose.

While there would be adverse impacts within Kensington Place with the west alignment shift, TDOT and FHWA have determined through an environmental justice analysis that these impacts would not change the finding of the approved Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), and that the project would have no disproportionately high and adverse impacts to minority and low-income populations compared with the rest of the corridor, pursuant to Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and Executive Order 12898.

Click on the image above for larger view.

Conceptual plans for the Modified Preferred Alternative (with the west alignment shift) can be downloaded here or viewed at the following locations.

SR 162 Pellissippi Parkway Ext Conception Plans of Preferred Alternative (pdf)

NOTE: Build Alternatives (including alignments) are conceptual during the required National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) evaluation process, and these conceptual plans are subject to change. A Preferred Alternative concept in the Environmental Phase of a project is not yet a final design. Once detailed engineering plans are prepared and field surveys are conducted, TDOT will be able to determine right-of-way limits, edges of pavement, location of shoulders, as well as curb and gutter and sidewalk widths for those areas in which it is proposed. Until the final design plans are prepared, it is not possible to know specifically how a particular property and property owner will be impacted by the project.

For more information on the development of the proposed Pellissippi Parkway Extension, visit the Timeline section for this project.