The Johnson City Commission approved a $150,000 corridor study of State Route 75 on Jan. 2, 2025, awarding the work to CDM Smith. The study will run from Interstate 26 to the S‑curves past Daniel Boone High School and will examine the corridor and feeder roads for widening, turning lanes and signal needs.

“The corridor study will take place between Interstate 26 all the way to the S curves past Daniel Boone High School,” Deputy City Manager Randy Trivet said during the meeting. Trivet said the study responds to recent growth in the Gray area and prior public concerns about traffic and bottlenecks.

The commission-recorded budget for the study is $150,000. Trivet said the federal government will fund 80% (about $120,000), the state 5% (about $7,500) and the City of Johnson City 15% (about $22,500). He told commissioners the county was part of the selection process and is engaged in the work. If approved, CDM Smith would receive a notice to proceed and should begin within three to four weeks after submitting insurance and related paperwork; Trivet said he was not sure of the study’s completion date.

Trivet said the work will look not only at the main corridor but also at the side roads that feed into it to anticipate needs generated by new subdivisions and industrial and residential development. He cited an earlier corridor study for Boons Creek as an example of how a full corridor review can inform later construction and repairs.

Commission discussion at the meeting focused on whether the county was participating and on the study’s scope; a commissioner asked if the county was engaged, and Trivet confirmed county participation and that county staff helped write the scope and served on the selection committee.

The commission approved the award as part of the consent agenda vote recorded at the meeting. The study is intended to inform future project design and to identify locations where lane widening, turn lanes or signalization could reduce congestion.