TDOT has announced a public meeting to discuss the plans for an Alcoa Highway Bypass, a 6-8 lane road proposed through Alcoa and Rockford.

The meeting will be held:
Thursday, February 12, 2015
5 - 7 PM

*** UPDATE ***
The meeting location has changed/been corrected.
It will be held at the Alcoa Public Works building.
NOT at the Alcoa Municipal Building
in the lunchroom of Alcoa Public Works
725 Universal Street
(off of N. Wright Road/E. Edison Street, just north of Springbrook Road and east of Springbrook Park )
Alcoa, TN 37701
865-380-4800

TDOT will take written comments, a court reporter will be available for verbal comments, and you can speak with TDOT representatives.

Please attend to express your opinion for NO Alcoa Highway Bypass.

Anyone with questions regarding the meeting or if you cannot attend, please contact TDOT representatives:
Paul Beebe (paul.beebe@tn.gov)
or Mike Russell(mike.russell@tn.gov)
TDOT
7345 Region Lane
Knoxville, TN 37914
Office Voice - 865-94-2442
Fax - 865-594-2441

The proposed Alcoa Highway bypass will come too close to the treasured Springbrook neighborhood and community park. It will take away the Pine Lakes Golf Course. It will also negatively affect the Northwood, Glenmore Estates, and Cedar Hill neighborhoods as well as five other impacted areas.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) released a study regarding a 6-8 lane road proposed through Alcoa and Rockford. How can the Federal Highway Administration issue TDOT a Finding of No Significant Impact if there is a loss of 250+ acres of land? The City of Alcoa, the Blount County Chamber of Commerce and several business owners paid an engineering firm to develop the proposal after TDOT recommended fixing the existing highway.

Plans for an Alcoa Highway redesign from UT Hospital in Knox County to the 129 bypass allows for the addition of lanes to the existing roadway, except for this section.

Nearly half of the proponents at the Nov. 2010 meeting included 10 local government officials and spouses, 1 asphalt company employee, 8 employees of a local road materials producer, and 2 individuals in commercial real estate. Excluding these biased proponents, the number of respondents for and against the project are nearly even. 99% of the opponents were Blount County residents as compared to 67% for the project.

The new Noise Study Results indicates only one neighborhood will qualify for “likely” noise barriers: Northwood. Springbrook, Glenmore Estates and five other impacted areas will not qualify. Cedar Hill qualifies, but it’s not feasible.

The cost for fixing the existing roadway would take less taxpayer funds. Improvements to the existing highway would have no significant impact, according to the 2000 Environmental Assessment. A new highway would have extensive impact, the loss of hundreds of acres of undeveloped land that could be used for better purposes and increased noise and air pollution in nearby neighborhoods and parks.

The trees, parks, mixed-use areas, diverse population, sidewalks, and greenways make this a model community. Get out one day and travel down Hunt Road (going north), left on Wright Road, right on Cusick, then left on Singleton Station. Most of the green space to the left of these roads will be lost to eight lanes of pavement. Also notice as you are taking this drive how close the road will come to Springbrook, Cedar Hill, and Glenmore Estates. Don’t forget to imagine the 6 large interchanges along this route.

I implore everyone to consider pursuing the original fix for the existing Alcoa Highway and not introduce such a colossal roadway through our communities.

Given the economic climate and taxpayer concerns about government spending, local government and state transportation officials would be wise to take a step back and reassess. There is a less expensive alternative with far less community and environmental impact.