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Hardin Valley project would widen key corridor to ease congestion, speakers say
Summary
Speakers described a plan to convert a three‑lane section on Hardin Valley to five lanes to address long‑running congestion in Knox County’s fastest‑growing area; presenters estimated the work could cost "a couple of million dollars" and take about two years.
Unidentified Speaker 1 said the Hardin Valley area faces "serious challenges" from congestion and called the proposed roadway project "a cost effective way of greatly improving traffic flow" for Hardin Valley and all of Knox County. "I'd like to thank our folks at Engineering Public Works for listening to the community and coming up with this solution," Speaker 1 added.
An unidentified Speaker 2 placed the project in context, saying Hardin Valley "has consistently been the fastest growing area in all of Knox County for the last 2 decades," and that growth has outpaced supporting infrastructure. Speaker 2 said the stretch targeted is "the main entrance to Hardin Valley" and described it as "primarily…a commercial corridor, which tends to take a greater bulk of the traffic," underscoring why the corridor was proposed for improvement.
Speaker 3, who described having built the road "20 some years ago," said the original three‑lane configuration worked for about eight to 10 years but that subsequent residential and commercial growth has increased demand from drivers trying to reach Pellissippi and the interstate system. "We just really need to be able to build in more capacity," Speaker 3 said.
On design, Speaker 3 described the plan "to take this 3 lane section of road and convert it to 5 lane," while "still maintain[ing] our center turn lane for safety, for turning movements," and limiting construction impacts mainly to the north side of the street. Speaker 3 also described the existing road as having shoulders, curb and gutter, and sidewalks.
On cost and schedule, Speaker 3 offered a preliminary estimate: "This is a project probably cost us a couple of million dollars and really be able to get done in 2 years." The speakers did not specify funding sources, the formal approval process, or required permits at the meeting.
Speaker 2 said officials hope the work will offer "immediate relief" for drivers traveling deeper into Hardin Valley and described the widening as "a good first step" while staff continue work on broader supportive infrastructure to "ease the pressure of that growth and development."
No motions, votes, contract awards, funding approvals, or definitive next steps were recorded in the transcript provided. The meeting did not specify budget sources, a formal procurement schedule, or the next procedural steps for approvals.
