Prior to the reconstruction of State Route 66 leading to Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, Chapman Highway in Knox County was the primary route to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In 1977, anticipating increasing traffic volumes, the state proposed a new road that would divert interstate traffic bound for the Smokies around downtown Knoxville to Chapman Highway. The new road was originally called the South Knoxville Boulevard, but was recently renamed as the James White Parkway.

The first section of the road from Riverside Drive to Moody Avenue, which included a bridge over the Tennessee River was completed in the early 1990’s. The remaining section, from Moody Avenue to Chapman Highway is slated for right-of-way acquisition beginning in 2002. However, the decision on road design and location has not been released.

In the meantime, there has been considerable discussion concerning the design of this road section. TDOT plans call for a Freeway design with interchanges at four locations. The TPO (Transportation Planning Organization) Executive

Board has proposed a Boulevard design alternative with unlimited access from all road crossings. The TPO Technical Committee proposed a Controlled Parkway, a design that would still allow access control while decreasing the land and aesthetic impacts of a Freeway profile.

An additional proposal developed by the TPO Technical Committee, which hinges on the completion of the originally planned road section, would extend the James White Parkway to Governor John Sevier Highway. As proposed, this additional road section would likely take one of two routes:

1. Continuing from the intersection at Chapman Highway, the additional road section would continue southwest, intersecting Governor John Sevier Highway on the west side of the Governor John Sevier Highway/Chapman Highway interchange
2. Continuing from just east of the intersection at Chapman Highway, the additional road section would continue south, intersecting Governor John Sevier Highway on the east side of the Governor John Sevier Highway/Chapman Highway interchange

Objectives

• Minimize the environmental and social impacts from construction of this road section
• Protect existing land uses
• Promote the balanced development of new lands opened to development

Short-Term Actions
(5 Years)

• Continue to monitor the TDOT planning process for construction of this road section
  Responsible Agencies: TPO, MPC, Knox County Engineering and Public Works, City of Knoxville

Long-Term Actions
(15 Years)

• Develop a balanced land use proposal for land development along the route(s)
  Responsible Agencies: MPC, TPO
• Upgrade infrastructure to support additional development
  Responsible Agencies: Knox County Engineering and Public Works, KUB