KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Knox County Engineering and Public Works expects to begin work late this summer on major improvements to South Northshore Drive between The Cove at Concord Park and Choto Road, the city of Knoxville said.
"The modernization efforts, which should wrap up in the summer of 2025, comes after years of work to improve an adjacent portion of the busy corridor," the city said. "The work will require occasional one-lane traffic, but crews will attempt to limit the lane reductions to non-busy travel times."
Senior Director of Knox County Engineering, Jim Snowden, said he is especially proud of the boardwalk built beneath two bridges to allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross Northshore Drive safely.
"Over the last few years, we added a turn lane into the entrance of The Cove at Concord Park," Snowden said. "The county built a section of greenway to a new trailhead that was constructed at Callaway Ridge so folks can park and ride their bicycles.'
Snowden also said that Mayor Glenn Jacobs, Commisioner Larsen Jay, Commisioner John Shoonmaker and the entirety of Knox County Commission gave them the funds to eliminate the dangerous crossing.
The Knox County Commission recently approved a "right-of-way acquisition" for crews to continue to modernize Northshore Drive.
“We want to make the lanes wider, the shoulders wider and the side slopes safer," said Snowden. "We’re going to update guardrails to current safety standards."