KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT)– The Tennessee Department of Transportation is asking for public feedback as it develops plans to address traffic congestion along a 17-mile stretch of Interstate 40 between the I-40/I-75 split and the I-40/I-640 interchange.
According to TDOT, the corridor contains three of Tennessee’s worst traffic bottlenecks, prompting the agency to study several potential solutions aimed at improving traffic flow and accommodating continued growth in the region.
Among the options under consideration is a proposed 25-mile I-75 bypass extending from the I-40/I-75 split to I-75 at Raccoon Valley Road. The route would pass through portions of Knox and Anderson counties. TDOT officials say the concept differs from the previously proposed “Orange Route” bypass that was rejected in past years.
The bypass proposal drew significant attention during the project’s first public meeting. Some residents expressed concerns about how the route could affect nearby neighborhoods.
“The toll booth out by Buttermilk would sit on our neighborhood,” resident Daryl Johnson said. “So, yeah, it would take our neighborhood completely.”
Other alternatives being considered include managed “choice lanes,” which would allow drivers to pay a fee for access, as well as additional travel lanes and roadway widening projects.
Residents attending the meeting said traffic congestion remains a daily challenge and emphasized the need for long-term solutions as East Tennessee continues to grow.
Two additional public meetings are scheduled for this week:
- Tuesday: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Knoxville Public Works Service Center
- Wednesday: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Farragut Community Center
TDOT says public feedback will help guide future decisions on how best to improve mobility along one of the region’s busiest transportation corridors.
