Part of Alcoa Highway will be temporarily closed to traffic.
The northbound lanes between John Sevier Highway (State Route 168) and the UT Medical Center will be closed from midnight Oct. 4 (Friday night into Saturday) through 6 a.m. Oct. 7, the Tennessee Department of Transportation announced.
The temporary closure will not cut off access to McGhee Tyson Airport from Knoxville, but travelers will need to take an alternate route back to Knoxville.
The Maloney Road interchange will remain open for local traffic only.
This closure will mitigate the risk of rockfalls onto the road, according to the TDOT closure announcement. It's part of TDOT's ongoing improvements to the highway.
"This closure is necessary to allow the contractor to blast, scale and remove rock outcroppings on the roadway's adjacent slope," said TDOT spokesperson Mark Nagi.
Southbound lanes will be "largely unaffected," TDOT said.
"Drivers should expect delays, use caution and remain alert as this work continues throughout the weekend," Nagi said in a social media video post.
What is an Alcoa Highway alternate route in Knoxville?
During the northbound closure, drivers traveling from Maryville, the airport or anywhere in Blount County toward Knoxville will need to take a detour.
TDOT recommends taking Pellissippi Parkway to bypass the construction closure. Local traffic can drive on John Sevier Highway to Chapman Highway.
What are they building on Alcoa Highway?
The yearslong Alcoa Highway project involves widening and safety improvements to the thoroughfare.
Recent work as of August involves grading, constructing reinforcing soil walls, relocating phone and internet lines, erecting beams for one of the bridges, installing a storm drain and retaining wall construction.
How do I find out about road closures in Tennessee?
Tennessee drivers can see construction projects, road closures and more by using TDOT SmartWay. Before getting behind the wheel, drivers can also check traffic cameras.
Allison Kiehl covers trending and breaking news from Knoxville for the Tennessee Connect Team. Email: [email protected]
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