State Route 115 (US 129/Alcoa Highway) from Woodson Drive to Cherokee Trail

Timeline

Transportation projects are developed in four phases: Planning and Environmental, Design, Right-of-Way, and Construction. Proposed improvements to State Route 115 (US 129/Alcoa Highway), from Woodson Drive to Cherokee Trail are currently under construction.

Let to Contract: May 31, 2023
Contractor: Charles Blalock & Sons, Inc.
Current Contact Amount: $186,326,644.64
Estimated Completion Date: September 30, 2027

Project Update:

September 29, 2023

Motorists traveling on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115) in Knox County should be
aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have a temporary impact on traffic.

Beginning on Sunday, October 1, the northbound right lane on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115) will be closed between Woodson Drive and Cherokee Trail while crews continue to install a temporary rock catchment fence. This closure will be in place nightly between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. through Thursday, October 5.  

In addition, on Monday, October 2, the southbound right lane on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State
Route 115) will be closed between Cherokee Trail and Woodson Drive from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, October 3. This will allow crews to install a utility pole and associated service lines.  The
contractor will perform rolling roadblocks in short intervals (approximately 20 minutes each), which will be spaced out to allow traffic to return to normal flow in between operations. 

Throughout the week, the contractor may utilize shoulder closures and traffic pacing operations in this area to move equipment and perform various work activities. These operations will be intermittent daily between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and are anticipated to have minimal impact to traffic.

This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions.  Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.

 September 15, 2023

Motorists traveling on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115) in Knox County should be
aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have a temporary impact on traffic.

Beginning on Sunday, September 17, the northbound right lane on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115) will be closed between Woodson Drive and Cherokee Trail while crews install a temporary rock catchment fence. This closure will be in place nightly between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. through Thursday, September 21.  

In addition, next week the contractor may utilize shoulders and traffic pacing operations to move equipment and perform various work activities in this area. These operations will be intermittent daily between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and are anticipated to have minimal impact to traffic.

This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions.  Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.

September 8, 2023

Motorists traveling on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115) in Knox County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have a temporary impact on traffic.

Beginning on Sunday, September 10, the northbound right lane on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115) will be closed between Woodson Drive and Cherokee Trail while crews install a temporary rock catchment fence. This closure will be in place nightly between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. through Thursday, September 14.  

In addition, next week the contractor may utilize traffic pacing operations to move equipment and perform various work activities. These operations will be intermittent daily between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and are anticipated to have minimal impact to traffic.  

This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.  

August 31, 2023

Motorists traveling on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115) in Knox County should be
aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have a temporary impact on traffic.

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 5, motorists should expect shoulder closures in
both directions on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115) between Woodson Drive and Cherokee Trail while crews conduct clearing operations and other construction related activities. These closures will be in place until 3 p.m. each day through Friday, September 8.

In addition, traffic pacing operations are possible in this area during daytime hours to allow the contractor to move equipment and perform various work activities.  These operations are anticipated to have minimal impact on traffic.

This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions.  Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.

August 24, 2023

Motorists traveling on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115) in Knox County should be
aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have a temporary impact on traffic.

Beginning on Sunday, August 27, the northbound right lane on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State
Route 115) will be closed between Woodson Drive and Cherokee Trail while crews install portable barrier rail and anchors for a temporary rock catchment fence. This closure will be in place nightly between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. through Saturday, September 2.

Motorists should also expect shoulder closures in both directions during daytime hours on
Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115) between Woodson Drive and Cherokee Trail
while crews conduct clearing operations and continue installing the temporary rock catchment fence.

In addition, traffic pacing operations are possible in this area during daytime hours to allow the contractor to move equipment and perform various work activities.  These operations are anticipated to have minimal impact to traffic.

This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions.  Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.

August 18, 2023

Motorists traveling on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115) in Knox County should be
aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have a temporary impact on traffic.

Beginning on Sunday, August 20, the northbound right lane on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State
Route 115) will be closed between Woodson Drive and Cherokee Trail while crews install portable barrier rail and anchors for a temporary rock catchment fence. This closure will be in place nightly between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. thru Thursday, August 24.

In addition, the right shoulder will be closed in each direction on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115) between Woodson Drive and Cherokee Trail during daytime hours while crews conduct clearing operations.   

This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.

August 15, 2023

On Tuesday, August 15 and Wednesday, August 16, the contractor will perform rolling roadblocks on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115) between Woodson Drive and Cherokee Trail to allow crews to disconnect and remove several overhead electric service line crossings.  The rolling roadblocks will last approximately 20 minutes each and will be spaced out to allow traffic to return to normal flow in between operations.  They will take place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day.  

In addition, on Thursday, August 17, the northbound right shoulder on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115) in this area will be closed during daytime hours while crews remove several light poles. 

July 18, 2023

TDOT is excited to start construction of the improvements to Alcoa Highway (US129/SR115) from Cherokee Trail to Woodson Drive.  The project has been awarded to Charles Blalock & Sons, Inc. and their initial schedule has been approved for work to begin.   Blalock has started initial surveying/staking efforts and erecting construction signs. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on July 18.  Also, crews will be conducting a pre-blast survey and installing seismographs in several places along the project. Motorists traveling through this project should be alert for crews working alongside the edge of pavement to erect construction signs.

November 16, 2022

The contractor has moved on site to begin installation of construction signs and stake the project limits.