Empire Construction will be closing Island Home Avenue beginning Monday, March 30, to perform utility work associated with the construction of the River's Edge Apartments. The closure will continue for at least eight weeks. 

The 134-unit apartment complex - one-, two- and three-bedroom units in five buildings - is being constructed on the east end of Island Home Avenue, near the Island Home Park neighborhood. As part of the project, crews also will realign the road and construct a new public river walk and public street, Splendid View Circle. 

City of Knoxville officials, along with representatives of KUB and the contractor, Empire Construction, will host a public meeting to update South Knoxville residents, businesses and stakeholders about the project. The public meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 6, at South Knoxville Elementary School, 801 Sevier Ave. 

Island Home Avenue will be closed to through traffic traveling eastbound at the intersection with Sevier Avenue. The eastbound detour route during construction follows Sevier Avenue to McClung Avenue. It turns left at South Haven Road and continues to Island Home Avenue. 

Island Home Avenue will be closed west of the intersection with Maplewood Drive, but there will be access to Maplewood from Island Home Avenue. 

The westbound detour will use the same streets in reverse. 

There also will be a bicycle detour route posted to substitute for the existing signed bicycle route.



Anyone needing a disability accommodation in order to attend the public meeting on April 6 can contact City ADA Coordinator Stephanie Brewer Cook at 865-215-2034 or [email protected]. If anyone needs an English interpreter, contact Kim Scarborough, Redevelopment Office, at 865-215-2029 or at [email protected].