SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. — Traffic in Sevier County has been at a standstill as of late, for some people on their way to the Great Smoky Mountains or to cities near the national park.
"The traffic flow backs up on holidays, busy weekends and just busy times of the day," said Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters.
The county is getting an early Christmas present from the state — news of some relief. The Tennessee Department of Transportation said it's planning on building Exit 408 on I-40. TDOT said the project would cut down traffic near the new Bucee's and entertainment district.
Sevier County's mayor said with new hotels, retail stores and a theme park coming to the area, something needs to change.
"That expected growth is what really demands the new exit. We think that's going to help get folks in and out," says Waters.
The new exit has an initial price tag of around $188 million, money that the mayor said would pay for itself.
"This is beneficial to both the county and the state because of the revenue that we bring into the state. They realize how important it is to move around your tourists and citizens," says Waters.
The county said there is a hitch to the plan — the timeline. TDOT said construction won't start until 2030. Mayor Waters has been in office for more than 40 years and he said the growing population of Sevier County calls for new infrastructure solutions.
"When you have the population growth that we've had, 15 million tourists coming through the county, the infrastructure is always strained. That infrastructure includes the highway system," said Waters.