Knoxville Parkway - Proposed State Route 475
Frequently Asked Questions
The next project milestones are as follows:
FHWA Approval of Supplemental Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (SDEIS)
Immediately following approval, the SDEIS will be made
available for public inspection. Notices of availability
will be included in the Federal Register, local media
outlets, DOT website, etc. Notices must be published thirty
(30) days prior to public hearings. TDOT will abide by 23 CFR 771 regulation prescribing the policies and procedures
of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for
implementing the Nation al Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
of 1969 as amended by NEPA and the Regulation the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ).
Public Hearings
Comments on the SDEIS made during public hearings are
included in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS),
which is then submitted to FHWA.
Final EIS Approved by FHWA
Record of Decision
The Administration will complete and sign a Record of
Decision (ROD) no sooner than 30 days after publication of
the FEIS notice in the Federal Register or 90 days after
publication of a notice for the DEIS, whichever is later.
The ROD will present the basis for the decision as specified
in 40 CFR 1505.2, summarize any mitigation measures that
will be incorporated in the project, and document any
required Section 4(f) approval in accordance with
§771.135(1). Until any required ROD has been signed, no
further approvals may be given except for administrative
activities taken to secure further project funding and other
activities consistent with 40 CFR 1506.1.
How did TDOT decide to build the Knoxville Parkway? Both the East Tennessee Development District (ETDD) and the Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) proposed the idea of a western regional bypass in the 1970's. In 1994 the ETDD and MPC requested that TDOT conduct a feasibility study. The study began in 1997 and culminated with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement in December 2001. See our Project History page for more details.
What is the status of the Knoxville Parkway project?
Governor Bredesen and Commissioner of the Department of Transportation
(TDOT) Gerald Nicely announced they have accepted the recommendations for the Knoxville Parkway submitted to the state by the Regional Parkway Design
Resource Team in April 2006. View a September 5,
2007 letter detailing the status of the
project.
Where can I see a map of the proposed road?
Downloadable copies of the maps on aerial photos
are available as .pdf files.
The maps can also be viewed at local public libraries.
What is the funding status of this project? Except for preliminary engineering, there is no current funding for the Knoxville Parkway. It must be considered in future budgets of the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
What is TDOT's procedure for buying property? To see an explanation of Acquisition Procedures, Click here.
What is the purpose and need for this project? As stated in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), the purpose of the Knoxville Parkway is to provide an alternative route for I-75 traffic desiring to bypass both Knoxville and the I-40/I-75 corridor. The Parkway would also improve access to and circulation among communities within the area. An alternative route for I-75 is needed because I-40 and I-75 are major through-truck routes that are funneled together for the combined I-40/I-75 segment that is also a major commuting route in and out of Knoxville. Allowing through-traffic to bypass the combined section would reduce travel times and improve safety for the through-traffic. Shifting through-traffic away from the combined section would provide some relief to commuters and local traffic on the existing combined I-40/I-75 segment. The Parkway would also provide a high capacity alternative route should I-40/I-75 be closed due to an accident or other emergency.
What are the traffic counts in Knox County?
What is TDOT's Policy concerning Noise Walls?
Where can I find out about Knoxville's Air Quality issues?
Where can I get a copy of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement? The DEIS can be reviewed at the Knoxville office of the Tennessee Department of
Transportation.
7345 Region Lane
Knoxville, TN 7914
The DEIS can also be reviewed at local public libraries.
Remember that the DEIS was completed in December 2001 and some
items will change as part of the Context Sensitive Solutions process.
Click Here to view the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement online.
(Note: This document requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and this electronic
version does not contain the Appendices that are found in the hard copy. If you do not have Acrobat Reader
Click Here to download from Adobe.)
Governor Bill Haslam
