Page 8 - Nov-Dec2017 Vol35 No5
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KNOXVILLE By Becky Rehorn
Cumberland Avenue Corridor Project
Completed On Time and Within Budget
“To chart the course for a more NOVEMBER 2011 JULY 2015
attractive, economically successful,
vibrant and safe Cumberland Avenue” Environmental Phase began. Crews rerouted a water line around a 42-
has been the mantra for one of the most inch stormwater line deep below Cumber-
intense roadway construction projects the SPRING 2013 land Avenue.
City of Knoxville has undertaken (City of
Knoxville, 2007). At the beginning of this The preliminary engineering proposed a AUGUST 2015
project, there was no way the project team “road diet” for Cumberland reducing the
could have imagined the extraordinary street from four lanes to three lanes with a Water and gas pipelines across 21st Street
level of success this project has achieved. median to direct left turn movements and were installed along with the installation
address left turn conflicts. of a 30-inch storm drain across North
During Bill Haslam’s tenure as 22nd Street.
Knoxville’s mayor (2003 – 2011), he DECEMBER 2014
was approached with the idea of doing SEPTEMBER 2015
something to improve Cumberland The project was let for construction bids
Avenue. This initial conversation and awarded to Southern Constructors, Cumberland Avenue between 20th and
began a process that would realize its Inc. 22nd streets closed nightly between 10
successful completion with full support p.m. and 6 a.m. to allow for the installa-
and momentum from Knoxville Mayor APRIL 2015 tion and connection of new water lines to
Madeline Rogero’s (2011 – current) businesses in this area.
leadership and administration. Pre-construction public meeting is held
on April 2, 2015. Utility work begins on OCTOBER 2015
PROJECT HISTORY April 6, 2015. Knoxville Utilities Board
2007 began work to upgrade existing utilities New sidewalks, storm drainage, and Silva
and underground overhead utilities within Cells were installed and constructed mov-
The Cumberland Avenue Corridor Plan, the six-block project area. ing west to east up to 20th Street. Silva
adopted by MPC on April 12, 2007 and Cells provide underground root space for
by City Council on May 8, 2007, provides JUNE 2015 the news trees to be planted as part of the
groundwork for the project. streetscape transformation.
Phase I streetscape work began which
JUNE 2008 included improvements to Cumberland NOVEMBER 2015
Avenue from Alcoa Highway to 22nd
Request for Qualifications were issued Street. The primary objective was address- New water connections at 21st and Lake
by the City of Knoxville for the Cumber- ing the utilities, roadway capacity, turn and White avenues were completed, con-
land Avenue Streetscape Improvements lanes, signals, and sidewalks in prepara- struction of sewer line in North 21st Street
Project. tion of Phase II. Crews installed a new was completed, new sewer line installation
42-inch storm sewer pipe approximately began in South 19th Street, the 42-inch
JULY 2008 12 feet below the roadway and rebuilt the storm sewer continued east toward 20th
at-grade railroad crossing. Street, new pavement was installed from
Notification of the Cumberland Ave.
Corridor Project to property owners and
business owners. Vaughn & Melton Con-
sulting Engineers selected for design and
construction engineering and inspection.
AUGUST 2008
Start of consultant work on the Environ-
mental Assessment and detailed design
drawings.
JANUARY 2009
Environmental Phase was delayed in ap-
provals until November 2011. Preliminary
Engineering work and right-of-way con-
firmation and acquisition (approximately
24 months to complete), received TDOT
certification of right-of-way, received
TDOT notice to proceed with construc-
tion phase.
8 TPW November/December 2017
