A public meeting has been scheduled to present the recommendations of the City’s Papermill Drive Corridor Study final concept plan and to gather input from residents regarding the corridor.

The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on March 23, 2022 at the City’s Public Works Service Center, 3131 Morris Ave.

The $100,000 study utilized 80 percent federal funds with a 20 percent City match, administered through the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization. City Engineering partnered with CDM Smith to look at ways to improve safety and traffic flow for all modes of transportation on Papermill Drive between Kingston Pike and Weisgarber Road.

The relatively short stretch of Papermill is problematic: The road accommodates heavy vehicular traffic, but there is only one lane in each direction. Turn-ins to businesses are limited. Solutions would have to incorporate a creek that floods on one side of Papermill, utility and electric transmission lines on the other side.

In its current configuration, the road is not conducive to accommodate either pedestrians or bicyclists.

The Papermill Drive Corridor Study proposes improvements that will benefit all roadway users and includes a continual center turn lane, with a sidewalk on the south side of Papermill and a shared-use path on the north side that pedestrians and bicyclists could use safely.

Making the improvements is estimated to cost $13.23 million. The City would seek federal funding with a local match to be able to proceed with the recommended multi-use street safety improvements.

The City of Knoxville ensures meaningful access to City programs, services and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and reasonably provides translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. 

To request language translation services for this public meeting, contact Diversity and Inclusion Officer Tatia M. Harris at [email protected] or 865-215-2831. For disability accommodations, contact City ADA Coordinator Stephanie Brewer Cook at [email protected] or 865-215-2034 at least 72 hours before the meeting.