A permit allowing a contractor to close a section of Island Home Avenue has been extended two weeks to Friday, Jan. 15.

The contractor, Empire Construction, had been given an earlier extension to Dec. 31 to reopen the section of Island Home Avenue between 1650 Island Home Avenue and Maplewood Drive. 

Rainy weather over the past few months has delayed work associated with the building of the River’s Edge 134-unit apartment complex, a $14 million private investment on the South Waterfront.

The roadbed for weeks has been ready to be paved once the base stone dries out. Once the paving is done and the lanes striped, two-way traffic on that section of Island Home Avenue – one lane for eastbound motorists, another for westbound motorists – will resume.

Empire Construction will be continuing work on the realigned and shifted section of road and on construction of an 800-foot-long public riverwalk. Knoxville Utilities Board, AT&T and Comcast will be completing the installation of underground utilities and electric lines. The project also includes a new public road, Splendid View Circle.