An underground drainage pipe collapse has closed a section of Deane Hill Drive between Cheshire Drive and Morrell Road in West Knoxville, and City of Knoxville officials are advising all motorists except for local residents to avoid the road.

Work to repair the pipe and the sunken section of road at 7128 Deane Hill Drive will continue for several days.

“All local residents are able to get to their homes, but motorists used to taking Deane Hill as a cut-through route are running into a major traffic clog,” said Chad Weth, the City’s Public Service Department Director, whose crews are having to drain a nearby retention pond affected by the pipe collapse in addition to repairing the damaged road. 

“We’re advising non-local commuters to avoid the closed section of Deane Hill Drive altogether until the repairs are completed later this week,” Weth said.

Westbound motorists can turn right onto Cheshire Drive to access Kingston Pike and then Morrell Road before picking up Deane Hill Drive again on the other side of the collapse. But there’s no good detour route available for eastbound through traffic, officials said.

The City’s Deane Hill Recreation Center at 7400 Deane Hill Drive is open and can be reached from Morrell Road.

Visit www.knoxvilletn.gov and www.facebook.com/CityofKnoxville for updates on the repair work and the road’s reopening.