Blount Avenue Reconstruction
Southern Constructors, Inc. continues to work on the installation of utilities and sidewalks for the new Blount Avenue streetscape between the Norfolk South Railroad Underpass and Hawthorne Avenue. Construction sequencing will require lane shifts and periodic changes in the detour system and signs, particularly when the new water and wastewater lines are installed. This project is quickly moving towards its August completion date.
CITYVIEW RIVERWALK EXTENSION
The City’s South Waterfront Department was recently informed that the request to redirect State Transportation Enhancement grant funds from the Knoxville Shoals Riverwalk to the Cityview Riverwalk Extension will be allowed by the TN Department of Transportation (TDOT). On August 25, 2009, a $534,461 grant was awarded by TDOT for the project, which due to budget constraints has been reduced to $506,902.60 as of January 11, 2010. Total funding available for the project will be $608,283.12 ($506,902.60 TDOT grant + $101,380.52 Local match). The funding is being redirected due to the uncertain future of the former Baptist Hospital property, and was approved by City Council on June 1, 2010. Approval of the contract for the project was approved by City Council on June 15, 2010. The Cityview Riverwalk Extension will be connected to the existing section of Riverwalk already under construction, will help to support an existing private redevelopment project being readied for occupancy in summer 2010, and will extend in a direction that supports future connectivity to the South Waterfront – University of Tennessee Pedestrian / Bicycle Bridge about to start the design and environmental permitting phase. The ability to redirect the funding fairly quickly will keep the funding in our community rather than having the grant rescinded, which is good news.
SW-UT PEDESTRIAN / BICYCLE BRIDGE
The City of Knoxville has named Lawrie & Associates of Alexandria, Virginia as the most qualified lead engineering firm to enter into contract negotiations to design a pedestrian/bicycle bridge that will span the Tennessee River from the South Waterfront to the University of Tennessee’s Thompson-Boling Arena. The project scope of work and contract is slated to be finished by July of this year, with the request for City Council approval of the consultant contract expected in August or September 2010. Bridge design and environmental permitting will be complex, and will take 2-3 years for completion.
The Tennessee State Senate this week adopted a bond bill containing several projects, including the rebuilding of the Henley Bridge in Knoxville, and the bill was pending before the House of Representatives at our deadline.
Assuming the bond bill is adopted by the full legislature and signed by the governor, TDOT would expect to seek bids later this year for the construction contract, and to close the bridge shortly after the first of the year.
As reported previously, the bridge could be closed for as long as 36 months so that the deck and vertical supports can be removed, the arches refurbished, and the new deck installed. The new deck will be one lane wider than the current five-lane span.
Following public input gathered last year and early this year, the City of Knoxville asked TDOT to use that extra width for bike lanes on either side of the bridge, while keeping sidewalks at their current width. TDOT agreed to this request. The bike lanes will be striped, meaning that at some point in the future, TDOT has the option of using the extra space to add a sixth vehicular lane should that become necessary.
The City of Knoxville will be working closely with TDOT and affected businesses, neighborhoods and commuters to make sure the traffic diversions occur as smoothly as possible. Before the bridge is closed, TDOT will make the necessary lane modifications and traffic signals along the recommended alternate route - Chapman Highway to Moody Avenue to James White Parkway (also known as South Knoxville Boulevard).
