UPDATE (11/5/25 8 p.m.) – Knoxville, TN – KNOXVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) invites the public to attend upcoming public meetings regarding the I-40/I-75 West Knoxville Corridor. TDOT initiated a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study earlier this year to consider improvements to approximately 17 miles of interstate, with study limits extending from the I-40/I-75 Interchange in Loudon County to the I-640 Interchange west of Knoxville.
In accordance with Title 23 of the United States Code, Section 168 (23 U.S.C. 168), TDOT intends to adopt the planning products and recommendations resulting from the PEL Study. The PEL Study will also assist TDOT in making informed decisions for the network of interstates in and around West Knoxville. A PEL Study is a technical approach that integrates transportation planning with environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), allowing corridor-level challenges to be identified early through broad, planning-level studies. These studies help pinpoint transportation issues and guide future project development, streamlining decision-making across agencies and expediting the identification and advancement of projects.
The purpose of the PEL Study is to alleviate congestion and enhance mobility and operational efficiency in the West Knoxville area. The upcoming public meetings will provide the public an opportunity to learn about and provide input on the PEL Study’s existing conditions, draft purpose and need, and alternatives screening methodology.
TDOT will host three open-house-style public meetings featuring interactive and informative stations, providing an opportunity to learn more about the PEL Study and to submit comments through an online survey.
The content presented will be identical at all three events and held at the following times and locations:
- Monday, November 10, 2025, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time at the Farragut Community Center, Assembly Hall (239 Jamestowne Blvd., Farragut, TN 37934)
- Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time at the Pellissippi State Community College, J.L. Goins Administration Building (10915 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville, TN 37932)
- Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time at the City of Knoxville Public Works Service Center, Community Room (3131 Morris Ave., Knoxville, TN 37909)
Materials presented at the in-person public meetings and the online survey can be found on the I-40/I-75 West Knoxville Corridor PEL Study website here: https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/west-knoxville-corridor.html
You are encouraged to complete the I-40/I-75 West Knoxville Corridor PEL Study Survey at any time during the public comment period. Public comments will be accepted through December 4, 2025. Individuals unable to attend the meetings in person are encouraged to review online meeting materials and submit comments by:
- Email – westknox@publicinput.com
- Phone – 1-855-925-2801 Project Code -11074
- Mail – TDOT Project Comments, I-40/I-75 West Knoxville Corridor PEL Study, 505 Deaderick Street, Suite 700, Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0349
Persons with disabilities who require aids or services to participate in the public comment period may contact TDOT ADA Coordinator Shanna Chevalier no less than 10 days prior to the end date of the comment period at Shanna.Chevalier@tn.gov or by phone at (615) 741-0465 or TTY at 711.
ORIGINAL STORY: KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. (Story courtesy of WVLT) – The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is conducting a study on congestion along I-40 West and wants public input on potential solutions for the heavily traveled corridor.
I-40 sees more than 200,000 cars daily travel through Knox County.
TDOT continues to find ways to address traffic problems and improve safety.
Samuel Akins lives in downtown Knoxville and drives on I-40 often. His normally short commute can turn into an hour on busy days.
However, he said congestion is the biggest issue he faces.
“When you’re trying to you know make a normal 15 – 20 minute commute and it turns into an hour, it’s a little disheartening,” Akins said.
TDOT spokesperson Mark Nagi said the department is looking into all the problems of I-40, including backups.
“Nine of the worst 20 bottlenecks in our area are in this 17-mile stretch,” Nagi said.
TDOT is studying I-40 West from the Loudon County area to West Knox County. Nagi said this will help understand different options to make the corridor safer.
“Certainly, there are the two weigh stations that have to be looked at in the Farragut area near the Campbell Station Road exit. We need to look at the interchanges on Watt Road, that’s exit 369, as well as the interchange at Campbell Station Road at 373,” Nagi said.
Akins said he wants to see solutions.
“It really needs to be more lanes added, at least one or two more lanes added, especially coming out of downtown. That would really relieve a lot of the bottleneck effect that’s created there,” Akins said.
Nagi said TDOT needs to hear public concerns as they finalize plans.
Two more meetings are scheduled in Knoxville on Nov. 12 at Pellissippi State Community College J.L. Goins Administration Building Student Center and Nov. 13 at City of Knoxville Public Works Service Center.
Nagi said TDOT will draft plans after getting public input. The department will present those plans at public meetings again sometime next year.
You can view the project details https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/west-knoxville-corridor.html .
If you can’t attend the public meetings, there’s a survey https://publicinput.com/westknoxstudy .
