The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) recently announced engineers have determined that additional wall reinforcement is needed to ensure long-term stability near the Woodson Drive interchange. The determination, which was made during blasting and excavation, pushes the completion date to Spring 2030 for construction of the Alcoa Highway Corridor Project segment from Woodson Drive to Cherokee Trail.
“This section of the corridor is particularly complex, located between a steep rock cut and the Tennessee River,” TDOT commissioner Will Reid said. “To ensure long‑term safety and stability, the project design needed to be updated to include enhanced wall reinforcement, which necessitates additional construction time to complete the work safely and correctly.”
The Alcoa Highway Corridor Project will widen approximately 1.6 miles from four lanes to six lanes and reconstruct the Cherokee Trail/UT Medical Center interchange. The goal is to improve traffic flow, accessibility, and safety. Construction began in July 2023.
The department has adjusted project phasing to ensure that construction between Cherokee Trail and the University of Tennessee Medical Center will be completed in autumn 2027. TDOT is coordinating with the hospital and local partners to maintain access for emergency vehicles, employees, and patients.
Two travel lanes will remain open in both directions throughout construction.