Streetscape construction for the 500 Block of North Gay Street will begin Tuesday, Sept. 3rd. The City of Knoxville has issued the notice to proceed for Merit Construction to begin the improvements. Typical work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. This project will take approximately four months to complete and should be finished by the end of the year.
The 500 Block runs from the I-40 overpass to West Fifth Avenue. The major goals of this project are to improve the streetscape with landscaping, define on-street parking, address storm water issues and improve sidewalks throughout the block. It is an extension of the streetscape work that was done in the 300 and 600 blocks of North Gay Street in 2011. At times, traffic will be restricted to one lane during construction, but entrances to businesses will be maintained throughout the duration of construction.