I-640 Interchange at North Broadway - Knoxville
Frequently Asked Ouestions
Q: Concerned about the relocation and property buying process time for those who will be losing their properties to the proposed project. What is the process?
A: TDOT will provide advance notifications of impending ROW acquisition, and before acquiring ROW will have all properties appraised on the basis of comparable sales and land use values in the area. Owners of property to be acquired will be offered and paid fair market value for their property. No person lawfully occupying real property will be required to move with our 90 days written notice of the intended vacation date, an d no occupant of a residential property will be required to move until decent, safe, and sanitary replacement housing is made available.
Q: What is the speed limit through the construction zone?
A: The speed limit will remain as posted until the roadway conditions would warrant a change. In order, to keep the public safe, a speed reduction may be posted. All changes will be clearly marked. The Knoxville Police Department will be monitoring traffic through the project.
Q: How many lanes of traffic will be maintained during construction?
A: Two lanes of traffic (1 in each direction) will be maintained during construction on Broadway. Temporary lane closures are necessary to complete the project. However, when lane closures are required they will be scheduled during off peak travel times.
Q: What is the cost of the project?
A: Projected costs between $15 to $20 Million
Q: Will there be work on both sides of the road or only one?
A: Utilities and roadway construction will occur on both sides of the existing roadway.
Q: Will street lighting be maintained throughout the project duration?
A: The light poles will need to come down for utility relocation and roadway construction purposes. As roadway construction progresses, new light poles will replace the existing for illumination of the roadw
ay.
Q: Some of this area is commercial. What has been the reaction of businesses to the project?
A: Impacted property owners project have been positive. A consensus of opinion from the property owners is that they recognize the need to address the capacity issues and to improve the vehicle and pedestrian safety by correcting the horizontal and vertical geometrics of the alignment along with the side streets.
Q: Will left hand turns still be prohibited from Greenway Drive?
A: Yes. No left hand turns will be allowed from Greenway Drive crossing Broadway headed south. This restriction was placed on Greenway Drive during the SmartFix 40 project. Since the completion of this project, the city and the Department of Transportation have realized the operational and safety benefits that this restriction provides by limiting traffic conflicts on Broadway and reducing traffic queues on the I-640 at the westbound exit ramp. By eliminating this crossing movement at Greenway Drive, the city was able to remove the "No Right Turn on Red" on the westbound exit ramp. These operational changes were made by a mutual agreement between the city of Knoxville and TDOT after evaluating the safety and traffic needs along this corridor. The department is committed to balance the needs and desire of the community with the safety of all motorists.
