Project description
Due to rapid growth in the region, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) asserted that upgrades were necessary near the heavily congested Alcoa Highway. Since housing prices are soaring, new residents are flocking to locations once considered secondary but now serving as more affordable options. The Alcoa Highway links Knoxville to Alcoa and Maryville, providing access to McGhee Tyson Airport and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Given the project’s large scope and the state of Tennessee’s pay-as-you-go policy (where funding must be secured before beginning a project), the TDOT has divided it into seven segments that will expand the highway from four lanes to six, increasing capacity and reducing accidents. The good news is that two of those segments are already complete, bringing local residents closer to a smoother, more efficient commute.
What makes it interesting?
Located in East Tennessee around Knoxville, this is TDOT’s largest highway project to date. Taking place from 2023–2027, the total estimated project cost for the 13-mile stretch of US-129 from Cherokee Trail to Woodson Drive will amount to $183 million. Of this total, $123.7 million comes from Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds.
How HCSS software assisted with the project
In the pre-construction phase, Charles Blalock and Sons, Inc. utilized HeavBid estimating software, and during the project’s operations, Blalock relied on HeavyJob and HCSS Dispatcher.
“The relocated Alcoa Highway will improve the safety and operation of the route, relieve delays and congestion, and accommodate current and future traffic demands. To get the site ready for construction, heavy clearing and grubbing, as well as stripping of existing topsoil, was necessary."
-Mark Nagi, spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT)
