Construction Prompts Closure of Woodson Drive at Alcoa Highway in Knox County

Motorists traveling on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115) and in the Woodson Drive community in Knox County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have a temporary impact on traffic.

As part of the improvements to Alcoa Highway from Woodson Drive to Cherokee Trail, TDOT is building a new roundabout at Woodson Drive to make the intersection of this essential roadway with the collector road and Wye Way safe and efficient. This location is close to where Woodson Drive connects to Alcoa Highway.

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 1, crews will close Woodson Drive and Wye Way at the intersection with Alcoa Highway while crews place fill material, install storm drain and utilities, and construct the new roundabout and curbs. Traffic will be detoured to Cherokee Trail. Woodson Drive will reopen in its permanent configuration on or before Friday, July 31.

To improve the vertical alignment of the roadway, up to 4 feet of fill will be placed over the existing roadway to raise it to the new roundabout level. Crews cannot safely place deep fills in this manner while traffic is present, which is why the intersection needs to be closed during construction. Additionally, the roadway width within the roundabout is insufficient to accommodate traffic.

Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.