June 26, 2014 - Prosser Road is undergoing a major redesign. In order to alleviate chronic flooding that frequently closes the road, the City of Knoxville is reconstructing approximately 1,600 feet of Prosser Road between Knoxville Zoo Drive and East Magnolia Avenue.

City Council approved several capital improvement projects at its April 15, 2014, meeting, earmarking $1.4 million for storm drainage improvements on Prosser Road in East Knoxville.

Twin K Construction of Huntsville, Tenn., was awarded the contract for the road work, which is scheduled to be completed in December 2014.

A roadway storm sewer is being installed and soil added to raise the elevation of Prosser Road. The work will include new asphalt pavement, concrete curbing and gutters, concrete sidewalks, storm drains, pavement markings and water line relocation.

Prosser Road, which is now closed due to the redesign work, will be reduced from four lanes to two, and a bike lane and sidewalk will be installed.

Related work on Knoxville Zoo Drive will be completed and the two lanes of Prosser Road will be open by September 1 to accommodate the opening of the Tennessee Valley Fair and scheduled Knoxville Zoo events.

"This project was a long time coming due to extensive research and investigation as to how the natural drainage system worked," said Jim Hagerman, the City's Director of Engineering. "It will be great to have a functional street again that will be reliably available to residents."