With all main streets plowed and temperatures forecast to be above freezing, City offices in the City County Building will reopen at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024.

However, most back roads in neighborhoods remain snow-covered. Low overnight temperatures cause refreezing and black ice, so City officials urge caution. Don’t be overconfident too quickly, the Knoxville Police Department warns drivers.

In fact, there’s a chance for more wintry mix late Thursday and early Friday, to be followed by sub-freezing temperatures this weekend. If you can stay off the roads for a while longer, please do so.

Hundreds of police officers, firefighters, Public Service snow-plowing and salt-spreading employees, Fleet Services technicians and others have been on the front lines of the storm since the weekend.

City employees providing non-emergency services have been working remotely the past two days. They are encouraged to contact their supervisors if commuting to City offices on Thursday is hazardous; City offices are collaborating on ways to share and assist with staffing to safely resume non-emergency services.


GENERAL UPDATE ON CITY'S SNOWSTORM RESPONSE

• Knoxville Area Transit had suspended transit service since Monday due to dangerous road conditions. But starting with the 11:15 a.m. Thursday lineup, KAT will resume with Severe Snow Route operations. That means service will only be provided along the Kingston Pike, Western Avenue, Broadway, Magnolia Avenue and Chapman Highway routes.

Thursday service will end with the 8:15 p.m. lineup. Updates will be posted throughout the day Thursday on KAT’s Facebook page, Twitter page and on www.KATBus.com.

• City Court will not be in session the rest of this week, but employees able to safely get into the office will be available to help residents with questions about their court cases.

• City Public Service Department crews are continuing to treat all Level 1, 2 and 3 streets. They’ve spread more than 1,700 tons of salt in three days. Supplies are being replenished. Another 1,200 tons are being delivered. The Level 1 and 2 streets – the largest roads, plus access to hospitals, transit hubs, bridges, etc. – total 500 lane miles. These have been brined, salted and plowed repeatedly.

Starting Tuesday afternoon, crews began plowing more than 100 Level 3 streets, which include entrances to many neighborhoods and subdivisions.

• Waste Connections crews and City downtown crews have been unable to collect residential trash and recyclables Monday through today. Waste Connections will not be running residential routes on Thursday. Follow City social media for updates on Thursday and Friday pickups. Any trash not collected this week will be picked up next week on neighborhoods’ regular pickup schedules.

• The three warming centers that opened Monday at Magnolia Avenue United Methodist Church, Vestal United Methodist Church and Cokesbury Church remain open at night. The three centers served 123 people Monday, the first night, and almost twice as many people – 228 – Tuesday night. These centers operate through donations. Call 211 or email the Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability at [email protected] to donate money or food or to volunteer.


REPORTING NON-EMERGENCY ISSUES

To report non-emergency issues needing attention, or to request non-emergency services while City offices are closed to visitors, contact the 3-1-1 Center.

For fastest and easiest access, use the My Knoxville app or go to www.KnoxvilleTN.gov/311.


MORE INFORMATION

Updates will be posted throughout the day on City social media sites.

• Facebook.com/CityofKnoxville
• Twitter.com/CityKnoxvilleTN
• Instagram.com/KnoxvilleCity