State Route 126 (Memorial Boulevard)
Sullivan County
The purpose of the proposed project on State Route (SR) 126 (Memorial Boulevard) in Sullivan County is to provide a safe, efficient route for local traffic between the City of Kingsport and I-81.
The project extends approximately 8.3 miles, from East Center Street in Kingsport to I-81, and includes the following improvements: 4 lanes (divided) from East Center Street to Harbor Chapel, 3 lanes, which include two travel lanes and one eastbound truck climbing lane from Harbor Chapel to Old Stage Road, 3 lanes from Old Stage Road to Harr Town Road in the vicinity of East Lawn Cemetery and Yancey’s Tavern and 2 lanes from Harr Town Road to I-8.
Current Status: Right of way appraisal and acquisition is currently underway from East Center Street to east of Cooks Valley Road. Preliminary Design is underway from east of Cooks Valley Road to I-81.
Estimated construction start: From East Center Street to east of Cooks Valley Road: FY 2023 (pending funding).
From east of Cooks Valley Road to I-81: FY 2025
Estimated completion*: TBD
Funding Type: TBD
History and Background
Several design alternatives were considered in an effort to meet the purpose and need of the SR 126 improvement project. The project was the initial Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) project for Tennessee, in which improvements are designed to be sensitive to the context of the different land uses along the corridor. TDOT consulted with local, state and federal officials and agencies, identified environmentally sensitive areas and held several public involvement meetings regarding the corridor project. Initially, two build alternative options, Alternatives A and B, and the No-Build Alternative option were presented in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Since publication of the DEIS, the travel model used for this project was updated and updated traffic information has been made available. With that information, TDOT developed an additional alternative option for consideration, referred to as Modified Alternative B. This alternative was selected because it improves safety while minimizing the impacts to the environment and the community. It does not take graves from East Lawn Cemetery or present an adverse effect to Yancey’s Tavern, and it considerably lowers the number of residential and business displacements.
Public Involvement and Engagement
A Design Public Meeting was held on November 19, 2015, at Sunnyside Baptist Church. NOTE: The public comment period for this meeting has been extended to January 31, 2016.
Public Meeting Handout (pdf)
Public Meeting Presentation (pdf) (large file 13 MB)
Map Display 1 (pdf)
Map Display 2 (pdf)
Map Display 3 (pdf)
A Public Hearing was held on December 11, 2012, at Kingsport Civic Center Auditorium.
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) (pdf) (large file 16 MB)
Appendix for DEIS (pdf) (large file 14.6 MB)
Public Hearing Handout (pdf)
Map Displays:
Alternate A (Sheet 1 of 2)
Alternate A (Sheet 2 of 2)
Alternate B (Sheet 1 of 2)
Alternate B (Sheet 2 of 2)
Alternate B Modified (Sheet 1 of 2)
Alternate B Modified (Sheet 2 of 2)
Key Project Milestones
from East Center Street to east of Cooks Valley Road |
|
ROW Appraisal/Acquisition |
underway |
Construction |
Forecasted for FY 2023 (pending funding) |
from east of Cooks Valley Road to Interstate 81 |
|
Preliminary Design |
underway |
ROW Appraisal/Acquisition |
Forecasted for FY 2023 |
Construction |
Forecasted for FY 2025 |
*All forecasted dates are subject to change.
Project Materials
Project Contacts
Community Relations Officer: Mark Nagi; Mark.Nagi@tn.gov
Project email address: TDOT.Comments@tn.gov
*Subject to change