SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. — The Tennessee Department of Transportation released some details about a project meant to alleviate congestion on a highway most people travel on their way to the Great Smoky Mountains.
TDOT released its 10-year Project Plan report on Monday, revealing details for several projects statewide. One of the projects was the "Sevier Interstate 40 Interchange at Winfield Dunn Parkway" project.
Leaders proposed the project after development began on "The 407: Gateway to Adventure." A Buc-ee's was built near Exit 407 as well, attracting several visitors to the same exit used to travel towards Sevierville, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
According to TDOT, the Exit 408 project would cost around $189 million, and around 76% of the money would come from traditional state and federal sources, and the rest from the Transportation Modernization Act passed in March. Construction is not expected to start until 2030, according to the report.
A previous application for the project involved building a new Diverging Diamond Interchange a mile east of Exit 407. It would also include the construction of a new north-south arterial at the interchange that connects East Dumplin Valley Road and SR-139/Douglas Dam Road.