(WBIR - North Knox County) After more than three years of construction, TDOT has announced the road that's been dubbed the Powell bypass will open.
The new road will take drivers away from narrow congestion in the heart of the Powell community, from Gill Road directly to Clinton Highway, just south of Beaver Creek Road.
It's set to open on Monday, February 2, around 9 am. TDOT warns drivers to watch for workers on the new route, who will be completing road striping and activation of traffic signals.
TDOT said about 10,000 drivers a day are expected to use the two mile stretch that completes the expansion and widening of Emory Road from Halls to Powell.
TDOT engineer, Kristin Quells, said eliminating traffic in the two school zones on West Emory Road, Powell High and Middle Schools, is one of the main reasons they built the bypass. She added safety and traffic studies had been done showing the expansion was needed.
"There's a lot of traffic that's really just trying to get to the interstate or Clinton Highway," Quells said.
TDOT also said drivers will no longer have to cross an active railroad track.
"We actually built a bridge that goes over the railroad. So you'll never have to stop at the tracks or wait on the railroad tracks," she added.
Powell residents with back yards about a football field distance away are concerned about the noise the road could bring.
Resident Jeanne Baxter said at the same time, she also realizes how congested the traffic on Emory Road can get.
"I've been stuck in traffic over there," she said, "We'll just have to adjust."
On Tuesday, February 3, TDOT will close the Emory Road connector, which is located at the intersection of the new road, for a week. During that time, crews will finish up paving, guardrails, and other repairs there to connect it to the new bypass. Local traffic should detour on Gill Road or Brickyard Road in order to access Old Emory Road.
