KUB is scheduled to begin work on the utility improvement portion of the City of Knoxville’s West Jackson Avenue Streetscapes Project on Monday, Nov. 7.

Combined, the KUB and City infrastructure investments on the section of West Jackson Avenue between North Broadway and the ramp to South Gay Street will total almost $2 million.

The joint project begins with KUB’s utility infrastructure upgrades – a $580,000 investment, which includes replacement of 1,000 feet of natural gas main, 950 feet of water main and 500 feet of sewer main.

KUB anticipates completing all the utility upgrades on West Jackson Avenue by April 2017.

KUB will maintain ingress and egress to businesses, offices and parking areas, but the work-zone section of West Jackson Avenue will be closed to through traffic for the next six months while the infrastructure upgrades are being made.

The utility work is starting ahead of the City of Knoxville’s more than $1 million streetscapes project, which will include sidewalk improvements, new curbs, “bulb outs” and other features to improve pedestrian safety; better-defined on-street parking; landscaping; and resurfacing.

The City’s streetscapes project is scheduled to begin next spring, following the completion of utility upgrades. To review a presentation from an Oct. 13 public meeting, or to access archival documents on the Jackson Avenue streetscapes project, please visit http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/jacksonavenue.

The first phase of KUB’s utility construction will begin Monday, Nov. 7, near the entrance to the Jackson Avenue parking lot and progress westward to the area near 516 W. Jackson Ave. The entrance to the Jackson Avenue lot will be limited to alternating in/out traffic on Monday, Nov. 7, and Tuesday, Nov. 8. Construction will move past the parking lot entrance and normal two-way traffic will resume after Nov. 8.

To facilitate safe working conditions and to provide adequate space for construction vehicles and equipment, KUB will close West Jackson Avenue between Broadway and Gay Street to through traffic. The through traffic closures will remain in effect in the designated construction zone for the duration of the project as work progresses from east to west on West Jackson Avenue toward Broadway.

Construction methods will include boring and open-cut trenching. Weekday work hours will be limited to 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some night and weekend work may be required to meet project milestone dates. 

KUB will post regular updates throughout the project on its website at www.kub.org and on the KUB Facebook page. Additionally, KUB has set up a blog to keep customers informed about the project: http://kubmajorprojects.blogspot.com/. 

KUB customers also can call 865-558-2330 after normal business hours to leave a message that will be followed up with a call from a KUB representative by the end of the next business day.