KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Knoxville officials announced that the Magnolia Avenue streetscape project will be extended eastward by another 1,265 feet.
On Tuesday evening, City Council voted unanimously to authorize Mayor Indya Kincannon to enter into an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Transportation to extend the project from Bertrand Street past Cruze Street and on to Kyle Street.
According to a press release, the Phase 3 extension is estimated to be a $5 million investment – $4 million of that be federally funded, with the City funding the remaining $1 million. The design work will begin by June, with right-of-way acquisition starting by fall 2022. Actual construction is expected to get underway in early 2024.
There may be intermittent lane closures on four-lane Magnolia Avenue during construction, but the avenue is expected to remain open to through traffic, officials said.
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The first phase of the $7 million Magnolia Avenue Streetscape Project is complete, with work on the second phase expected to wrap up by spring 2020, according to the city.
City leaders cut a ribbon to celebrate completing the improvements. Mayor Rogero joined City Council members, City staff, TDOT staff, representatives of the project team and neighborhood stakeholders Thursday morning for the celebration.
Redevelopment Director Dawn Michelle Foster said she hopes the redesign will keep bringing new business to East Knoxville.
"The whole idea was to create economic vitality and reinvestment in an area that had seen disinvestment for a long period of time," Foster said.
The project includes upgrades on Magnolia Avenue between Jessamine and North Bertrand streets. Foster said many people live in the area around the upgrades.
"This state highway runs through an urbanized area, so the enhancements with street furnishing, and lighting, and benches, and trash receptacles is vital for a community where you have a lot of residents that live nearby," Foster said.
The changes include landscaped center medians and left-turn lanes, street trees, wider sidewalks, bike lanes, safer and stamped crosswalks with pedestrian signals, and enhanced transit stops and shelters.
