A mix of grid streets and curvilinear roads characterizes the street system. With the exception of Broadway, the main traffic arteries typically run east/west. Two segments of the interstate system greatly influence the travel patterns and land use. Public transit serves this sector, and sidewalks are common in turn-of-the century neighborhoods but not as frequent in neighborhoods built since the 1930’s. Bike lanes are provided along some arterial roads.

Many perceive that north-south travel across the sector is difficult. Because of topography, no local road crosses the entire sector in this direction. While single-family and multi-family housing are the main trip generators within the sector, several major traffic generators are located adjacent to the sector and although the destination is outside the sector, cut-through traffic causes problems in several neighborhoods. Major traffic generators include the Knoxville Center Mall and surrounding retail establishments, commercial enterprise along Broadway, Forks-of-the River Industrial Park and the Chilhowee Park/Knoxville Zoo.

Alternatives to heavy north-south traffic on Love’s Creek Road are needed, and if possible, non-local traffic should avoid the tunnel completely.

A railway bisects the sector, providing freight access to industrial areas along I-40. At-grade rail crossings exist on Spring Hill, Ault Road, Prosser Road and N. Cherry Street. A narrow tunnel underneath the railway at the intersection of Love Creek and Rutledge Pike further inhibits north-south travel. Residents of the East City Sector use the tunnel frequently, and consider it a part of their community in need of improvement. However, many residents of the East City Sector are not willing to sacrifice the scenic beauty of Love Creek in order to widen this road.

Traffic Counts
In general, the roads within the sector operate at a volume considered under capacity for the classification level. Problems are not attributed to congestion, but are caused by excessive speeds, poor sight distance and use of neighborhood streets as collectors.

ADT
1990

I-640—east of Broadway

T331

28,000

45,103

47,910

I-640—northwest of I-40

T332

33,694

37,785

52,204

I-40—east of Cherry St

T173

58,556

73,020

80,769

I-40—east of I-640

T175

52,443

65,570

73,476

I-40—west of Asheville Hwy

T176

71,620

82,260

106,378

Broadway—south of I-640

T52

26,003

24,062

28,517

Whittle Springs Rd—north of Fairmont

T346

10,808

8,455

8,523

Washington Pk—east of Whittle Springs Rd

T312

6,088

6,103

7,755

Millertown Pk—west of Love Creek Rd

T265

3,561

4,347

6,178

Cherry St—north of I-40

T311

15,660

15,194

14,168

Cherry St—south of I-40

T347

14,743

15,755

13,716

Magnolia Ave—west of Prosser Rd

T149

17,810

18,641

17,622

Rutledge Pike—east of I-640 overpass

T56

19,415

24,062

17,641

Asheville Hwy—west of Chilhowee Dr

T57

12,285

13,592

15,348

Delrose DR—east of Dandridge Ave

T300

2,340

4,347

2,846

Brooks Ave—east of Wilder

C286

4,926

Martin Luther King Jr. Ave—east of Hembree

C299

6685

Boyds Bridge Pike—east of Holston Hills Rd

C314

3,846

Fairmont Blvd—east of Broadway

C261

2,803

Buffat Mill Rd—west of Prosser

C355

2,707

Ault St—south of Holston DR

C321

1,176

Prosser Rd—north of Magnolia Ave

C302

2,697

Spring Hill Rd—south of Millertown Pk

C340

2,474

Walker Blvd—north of Mineral Springs Rd

C373

4,664

Valley View DR—east of Whittle Springs Rd

C369

1,391

Edgewood Ave—west of Whittle Springs Rd

C367

3,369

Cecil Ave—east of Citrus

C359

2,002

Wilson Rd—east of Chestnut

C292

2,689

Chilhowee DR— north of Holston Hills Rd

C316

2,671