Officials warn West‑side growth could make circumferential bypass harder to site

During the PEL study discussion, a regional representative raised concerns that growth concentrated on the west side of the Knoxville area — including Farragut and Lenoir City — means planning for a circumferential route must account for constrained right‑of‑way and heavy construction activity. The representative noted that earlier route concepts are now less viable given new development and urged advanced land acquisition if a corridor is to remain feasible.

Sen. Massey responded that if a bypass is placed on the books it should be much further out and likely would not "touch Knox County"; she also said staff will set up meetings with TDOT and stakeholders to discuss heavy equipment and freight access tied to nuclear industry projects. The exchange underscored local concerns about how regional economic growth affects highway planning and where future bypass alignments might be sited.