Bill Haslam, Mayor Madeline Rogero, members of City Council, City staff, project partners, and Cumberland Avenue business owners and stakeholders will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Cumberland Avenue at 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 17. The event will be held at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy courtyard and lobby, 17th Street and Cumberland Avenue.

The 28-month top-to-bottom reconstruction of Cumberland Avenue is wrapping up next week – on time and within budget.

Cumberland Avenue between 17th and 22nd streets has been transformed into a safer, more pedestrian-friendly corridor with new utility infrastructure, wider sidewalks, improved traffic flow, a raised median and left-turn lanes at intersections.

The public investment of $25 million has helped leverage more than $190 million in private investment. 

Ample parking for the ribbon-cutting celebration is available at the University of Tennessee’s White Avenue Garage, 1621 White Ave. (between 17th and 16th streets; note that White Avenue runs one-way eastbound). Taking a KAT bus? Routes 10 and 11 serve Cumberland Avenue as part of the Free Fare Zone.

Anyone needing a disability accommodation to attend the Aug. 17 ribbon-cutting should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Stephanie Cook, at [email protected] or 865-215-2034. For an English interpreter, contact the City Law Department at 865-215-2050.