Since Monday, March 13, contractor crews have shifted the eastbound lane of Cumberland Avenue from 22nd to 19th streets and set the stage for the installation of the new concrete median. The next step in the process, starting Wednesday, March 22, is laying the new concrete curb with an extruded curb machine. This will require temporary, intermittent lane closures of Cumberland while the machine lays down the new median curbs.

This is the latest development in the City’s $17 million reconstruction of Cumberland Avenue.

The concrete pours will be scheduled each day to avoid peak traffic hours and will be fully complete by 6 p.m. on Friday, March 24. Flaggers and police officers will be on site to direct traffic around the work zone. If traffic is heavier than expected, an alternate route will be designated and a detour will be implemented. 

Additionally, through traffic to points east or west of the area may want to consider using Neyland Drive as an alternate route.   

The work will occur starting at 19th Street in the eastbound traffic lane. 

Mid-block left turns have been prevented so far by temporary barriers. The new medians will be between 3 feet and 13 feet wide, depending on turn lanes and Knoxville Area Transit bus infrastructure. Even though the number of traffic lanes on Cumberland has been reduced, the design is expected to reduce fender benders and improve traffic flow by eliminating blockages created by vehicles turning left across incoming traffic in the middle of the block.

More information is available at www.CumberlandConnect.com, on the Cumberland Connect Facebook page, facebook.com/CumberlandConnect, and on the Cumberland Connect phone app. Or text VFL to 313131 to get text messages on the most current traffic updates.