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Residents urge commission to probe TDOT land‑acquisition timing for Pellissippi Parkway extension

Blount County Commission Workshop · February 13, 2026

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Summary

Multiple residents told the Blount County workshop that TDOT and nearby cities accelerated right‑of‑way acquisition for the Pellissippi Parkway extension, alleging previously approved projects were canceled and warning that productive farms and homes could be taken out of the tax base for years.

Several Blount County residents used the Feb. 12 workshop public‑comment period to urge the commission to investigate actions they say accelerated right‑of‑way acquisition for the Pellissippi Parkway extension.

Nina Gregg told commissioners that the cities of Alcoa and Maryville, together with Blount County government, "worked with the transportation organization towards the end of last year and TDOT to accelerate the start date for right of way acquisition of the Pellissippi Parkway extension, which was scheduled for 2032 and now it's scheduled for 2036." She said three previously approved projects were canceled and funding was reapplied to right‑of‑way acquisition. "They took funds from those projects without consideration by elected representatives who were unable to represent your constituents," she told the workshop, and handed out a timeline of actions.

An unnamed resident who identified himself as a longtime taxpayer on Old Walland Highway echoed Gregg's concerns and said about 110 properties (homes and farms) could be affected. He accused an "unelected city employee" of pushing the work forward without the commission's knowledge and asked the commission to investigate.

Susan Keller, who said she is a farmer and lives on East Brown School Road, said roughly 23–25 acres of her land lie in the proposed corridor and asked what TDOT would do with acquired farmland: whether it would be maintained, leased back to owners, or left to grow up. "Is it just going to grow up? Is members or TDOT going to keep it mowed down and keep it looked? Can we rent our own property and have to pay — is the state going to grow a crop?" she asked, urging commissioners to consider agricultural impacts.

Workshop officials declined to engage in extended debate during the public‑comment period but offered to speak with residents after the meeting. The comments were recorded for the workshop minutes; no formal action was taken during the session.