Commissioners Propose Knoxville Highway Bypass

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) — Knox County commissioners are proposing a new highway bypass around Knoxville. Knox County Commissioner Larsen Jay stated that the highway would help alleviate the continually increasing traffic in the area.

The Commission of Knox County created a resolution encouraging the Tennessee Department of Transportation and state legislators to consider a new highway bypass around Knoxville.

The document says traffic congestion in the area requires long-term solutions.

The commission said Knox County’s population has more than doubled in the last 40 years. Approximately 182,000 vehicles travel through the I-40/I-75 corridor every day, the document said.

Additionally, the commissioners argue that as Tennessee traffic increases, citizen commute times could also significantly increase if highway improvements are not done.

They suggest a bypass highway to divert traffic around Knoxville, according to the document.