KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – On any day at any time, traffic on I-40 in West Knoxville is iffy at best. On Wednesday, the Tennessee Department of Transportation met with local leaders about the future of the I-40/I-75 corridor and how it fits into TDOTs ten-year plan.
At the meeting, officials discussed how to reduce congestion along the I-40/I-75 corridor west of Knoxville, which runs from the I-40/I-75 interchange in Loudon County to the I-640 interchange west of downtown.
“We kicked off the study about two years ago. And we are in the final stages of being able to deliver the results of the study later this fall in 2026,” said Amanda Snowden, the TDOT Region 1 Director.
The new study by TDOT and its consultants evaluates potential solutions which include: widening the interstate, building collector/distributer roads, putting in choice lanes, or even building an I-75 bypass.
“So, the bypass is a 25-mile relocation of I-75,” said Brian Thompson, a consultant for TDOT. “It’s a four-lane roadway with a center median, much like your interstates are today.”
The study also weighs whether or not to change how road systems are managed, assessing the feasibility of everything from weigh-ins to variable speed limits which would rely on AI, while appearing to pour cold water on a potential express bus line.
“It doesn’t really address congestion, and it doesn’t really address long travel times,” said Thompson.
After the presentation, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon questioned how the study came to that conclusion.
“How can you say that it doesn’t relieve congestion when instead of 30 cars, you have 30 people on the bus, like one bus takes a lot less space than 30 cars,” said Kincannon. “And I know people don’t like busses.”
Kincannon also asked about modernizing Middlebrook Pike and Kingston Pike, saying Knoxville needs more immediate solutions, while Farragut Mayor Ron Williams voiced concerns about flooding coming from the city.
“I can show you videos of a woman standing on top of van on underneath our exit,” said Williams. “And the reason she was standing on top of that van, she’s waiting to be rescued because there’s water at the door hinge.”
Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank voiced her concerns about how the projects would impact her constituents.
“Do you measure anything like economic development and preservation of land and any other factors other than just strictly the traffic component?” said Frank.
Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs suggested asking Elon Musk’s Boring Company for assistance.
“The Boring Company has a presence in Nashville currently,” said Jacobs. “But, looking forward there, any conversations about incorporating that in this”
TDOT said they have not spoken to the Boring company, adding that the permitting and feasibility could prove to be an issue
While there are several potential long-term solutions, don’t expect traffic along the I-40/I-75 corridor west of Knoxville to pick up anytime soon.
TDOT will hold three public meetings next week on the project. The dates and times are listed below.