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Proposed Greeneville Bypass - Greene County

Project Timeline

Transportation projects are developed in four phases:

1. Planning and Environmental
2. Design
3. Right-of-Way Acquisition
4. Construction

The project is currently in the Planning and Environmental stage. The following is a timeline of the events concerning this project:

Project History

1994:

  • Tennessee State House of Representatives requests that TDOT evaluate opportunities to provide transportation improvements connecting the cities of Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Newport, Greeneville, and the Tri-Cities.

2002:

  • TDOT Commissioner Nicely asked the Center for Transportation Research at the University of Tennessee (UT) to conduct a project assessment for SR-35 (US-321).

2003:

  • The mayors of Greeneville, Tusculum, Baileyton, Mosheim, and Greene County make a request to TDOT for construction of a “Northern Loop” around Greeneville based on the findings of the UT study. The mayors emphasized that their request was consistent with TDOT’s plans for SR-35 and US-321 (from Pigeon Forge to the Tri-Cities airport).

2006:

  • TDOT performs an extensive traffic study to evaluate SR-34 (US-11E) through Greeneville. The traffic study was entitled Traffic Forecast Study Greenville, TN
    – US 11E Proposed Bypass From Halhenard Road to Stone Dam Road or SR 107 Green County.
  • TDOT prepares a Transportation Planning Report (TPR) for a northern connector around Greeneville
    The attached map shows general corridors that have been examined in former studies around Greeneville. Download Map (pdf)

2008:

  • TDOT begins work on an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to study all reasonable alternatives for a bypass around Greeneville.
  • TDOT held a public meeting to provide the public an opportunity to comment on the purpose and need for the project and to help identify potential alternatives and environmental issues.
  • Project alternatives will be identified. Local, state, and federal agencies will be asked to provide concurrence with the alternatives to be carried forward in the EIS.
  • Preliminary investigations will be conducted for impacts to the natural and human environment.

2009:

  • The Purpose and Need for the project was finalized.
  • Project Alternatives were identified.
  • Detailed technical studies and conceptual engineering plans began for each project alternative.

2010-2012:

  • Technical studies for each project alternative continued.
  • Environmental constraints were found and build alternatives were adjusted.
  • Additional testing underway due to the adjustment of the build alternatives.

2013:

  • Technical studies will be completed.
  • TDOT will complete the Draft EIS (DEIS).
  • Environmental agencies and FHWA will review and approve the DEIS.

2014:

  • DEIS will be made available to the public.
  • DEIS will be published in the Federal Register
  • A public hearing will be held.
  • A preferred alternative will be selected for the project.

2015:

  • A Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) will be developed.
  • The FEIS will be signed by FHWA.

2016

  • A Record of Decision (ROD) will be anticipated.