When will I-40 from Cedar Bluff to downtown be repaved? | Know Your Knox
Knox County is in a unique position with two major interstates running through it, which leads to quite a bit of traffic on and off the interstates. In fact, Knoxville is home to the busiest roads in the entire state.
That also means lots of wear and tear on that pavement, and the interstates need to be repaved every once in a while to keep rides smooth and tires inflated. A particularly bumpy stretch of Interstate 40, from Cedar Bluff to downtown Knoxville, prompted reader Rick Boyd to ask Know Your Knox, "When is I-40 from Cedar Bluff through downtown going to be repaved?"
Boyd said he drives the stretch most days and the major problem he sees are holes where the pavement transitions from the highway to bridges. He said he's had to replace two tires over the past couple of years after he hit holes along that stretch.
Let's put it this way: Your tires probably won't like the timeline because that roadway might not see improvements until the 2030s.
Knox County Engineering Director Jim Snowden said the county gets a paving schedule from the state that outlines which highways will be paved next and when. That stretch of I-40 is not on the 2023, 2024 or 2025 lists.
I-40 from Cedar Bluff to North Winston Road was last paved in 2020, Tennessee Department of Transportation spokesperson Mark Nagi said. The last paving work from North Winston to Liberty Street, the second leg of the Cedar Bluff-to-downtown stretch, was in 2016 and 2018.
So that whole stretch from Cedar Bluff to downtown was paved relatively recently.
Nagi said interstates typically are repaved once every 10 to 14 years, so it could be a long wait.
What can you do about rough roads?
Interstates are managed by the state, so if you see any issues there, you'll have to call TDOT.
Luckily, TDOT has a specific number the public can call to report needed repairs. You can call the TDOT Road Repair Hotline at833-836-8349, or you can fill out an online request.
What if you come across a maintenance issue on a local road rather than the highway? Well, the city and county have their own helplines.
If you come across a pothole on a city street and want to alert the c ity of Knoxville, call 311. You can also submit an online request. To report issues to the city civil engineering section, call 865-215-6100.
Potholes are patched on an as-needed basis and are filled as soon as possible, according to the city's website.
To report potholes and other needed road improvements in Knox County outside the city, you can download the SeeClickFix app on your Apple or Android device. The app allows residents to share tips about nonemergency situations through comments and pictures.
Know Your Knox answers your burning questions about life in Knoxville. Want your question answered? Email [email protected].
Silas Sloan is the growth and development reporter. Email [email protected]. Twitter @silasloan. Instagram @knox.growth.
Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: It could be more than a decade before a major I-40 stretch is repaved
