Construction on Alcoa Highway is on schedule, but far from over.
The stretch from Woodson to Maloney roads has been torn up since 2016.
TDOT said the road updates are much needed, but the long-time construction isn't great for business in that area.
Alcoa Highway sees about 50,000 cars drive through every day, according to Mark Nagi with TDOT.
"The big part of this project is that we're widening the roadway and you're not going to be able to take those left turns like you currently are," said Nagi. "We're trying to make this roadway as safe and as efficient as possible."
To get to that point, construction on the $70 million project will continue through the fall of 2019.
"Anybody who's driven Alcoa Highway over the years realized that work needed to be done."
Many Knoxville residents agree with that, but they note businesses have struggled.
Locals said places like Hardee's and Pilot Flying J have closed since the construction began in 2016.
Star Powersports is working to make sure they're not next.
"The Alcoa Highway construction has definitely impacted our business," said Star Powersports office manager Jenny Lamontagne. "Star Powersports, in the last year that it's been happening, [sales have] dropped about 40 percent which is dramatic for any business."
Lamontagne said they've had to ramp up their advertising to make up for the lack of business, but she's staying positive.
"We're hoping that just as soon as this all gets done that we survive it and be that mom and pop shop that absolutely did the best we could through this construction," said Lamontagne.
There still are three more phases of construction that have yet to begin on Alcoa Highway.
With reduced speeds in the work zone, that area has become a speed trap for drivers.
Since Jan. 1, the Knox County Sheriff's Office said it alone has given out 85 speeding tickets there.
KPD has written almost 750 citations in that time.
Nearly 300 of those were for drivers going less than 15 miles over the speed limit.