Transportation Planners Join Forces to Coordinate Future Projects
TDOT hosts Second Annual Project Outreach Meeting

Nashville, Tennessee - The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) met with Knoxville area transportation planners today in an effort to coordinate more than 100 road construction projects being planned for the next two years.

The Second Annual Project Outreach Meeting was held at TDOT’s Region One Headquarters in Knoxville. Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale, TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely, Knoxville Transportation Planning Organization Director Jeff Welch and other transportation planners attended the work session.

"This was an excellent opportunity for local transportation and elected officials to get a comprehensive overview of all the projects that are either already under construction or planned for the next couple of years," said Mayor Haslam. “I was pleased Knoxville was able to be a partner in this effort. TDOT is doing a great job of keeping us informed and listening to our feedback.”

TDOT initiated the Project Outreach Meetings in Knoxville, Nashville, Chattanooga and Memphis last year, establishing the work sessions as a new communication tool between agencies to eliminate project conflict.

“We feel this new partnership with regional planners is helping,” said Commissioner Nicely. “We share strategies to identify potential problem areas and then work to reschedule projects that might cause extra complications for motorists.”
A complex set of maps, designed by TDOT’s mapping team, displayed all of the state’s planned projects for Knoxville and the immediate surrounding areas. Maps representing projects designed by the local Transportation Planning Organization were also presented.

Some of the key projects showcased by TDOT included:

• SmartFIX40: the complex downtown I-40 widening project in Knoxville. An artist’s rendering of a key bridge from the project was unveiled along with details of the project phases and timeline. For more details about Smartfix40 go to www.tdot.state.tn.us/smartfix/
• TDOT SmartWay: Knoxville’s new Intelligent Transportation System and all of its components will be outlined. They system will be fully operational in early 2005.
• I-40/Papermill Drive/West Hills: The next major milestone in this Knox County project will be the redirection of westbound traffic on Papermill Drive. Diverted traffic will be using the new collector road moving onto the new Weisgarber off-ramp. Eastbound Papermill Drive traffic will not be impacted.
• Middle Creek Road: This is a widening project that includes a new alignment between Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. It is designed to provide a safe alternative to the main parkway through Pigeon Forge.

To view a list of local projects for the Knoxville area, click here.

To view a list of state projects for the Knoxville area, click here.