The Tennessee Department of Transportation road project to improve State Route 34, better known as U.S. 11E from State Route 32, also known as U.S. 25E/Davy Crockett Parkway, has made considerable progress.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is proposing to improve U.S. 11E from SR 32 (US 25E) to Steadman Road in Hamblen County. The project includes widening or realignment of the existing roadway. SR 34 connects SR 32 (US 25E) in Hamblen County with Interstate 81 in Greene County.

The existing roadway between SR 32 (US 25E) and Steadman Road is a two-lane, rural arterial route. The proposed project will widen the existing roadway to a five-lane facility or realign the two-lane roadway, depending on location. Construction will increase the number of lanes and/or increase lane and shoulder widths and improve route deficiencies. The planned improvements are designed to improve safety, address congestion, and accommodate future growth in the area.

TDOT Region I Communications Officer Mark Nagi provided an update on the US 11E Project Phase 1.

From the beginning of the project just east of Hwy 25E to Norfolk Road base stone, asphalt pavement, curbing, underground utilities, overhead utilities and shoulder vegetative stabilization are near completion to allow for a traffic shift. This traffic shift will allow the removal of existing asphalt/alignment to the north followed by grading, utility installation and subsequent asphalt paving, curbing and permanent alignment construction.

The north phase of the double barrel Box Bridge has been installed in the vicinity of Barton Springs Presbyterian Church (Cedar Creek).

Rough and final grading are being performed from Cedar Creek to the end of the project limits with several areas close to finish subgrade and prepped for stone base installation/ curbing. Various underground utilities, including sewer/water/etc., are ongoing in this area. This widening is predominantly to the south.

Nagi said that the Bethesda Road realignment is mostly complete with base stone and curbing in place.

The permanent Detention Pond located adjacent to Russellville Primary School is currently being rough graded with utility work ongoing, a realignment of Luther Proffitt Road and active reconstruction of the school entrance during the summer break months.

Overhead utility poles have been installed project-wide with much of the line relocations (power/communications) completed.

Much of the mass grading including fill areas are near completion for Phase I of construction (south widening).

The permanent closure of Old Russellville Pike, aka State Route 344, was initiated at the start of 2026 Summer to accommodate the Detention Pond/school work. This closure is from the intersection of 11E/SR34 to the east side of the new Luther Proffitt realignment. Permanent closure of Pope Road has also been implemented.

There are current temporary closures with detours in place for Jaybird north/south. Underground utilities, rough grading, and realignment is ongoing. Jaybird Road south curbing/asphalt paving in place to the proposed box culvert near Norfolk Southern crossing.

The widening of the new south alignment is currently underway project-wide with the Jaybird intersection most likely being the first to receive mast arm signal installation. The Jaybird (north/south) sections are in process for underground utility installation, Norfolk Southern coordination, and other miscellaneous items prior to final configurations.

The mast arm signalization for MAHLE Drive and East Morris Boulevard will most likely follow as the grading widening and supporting infrastructure is near completion.

“At this time, we do not have a solid time frame of when these intersections will be supported by the new mast arm systems; however, the department is working diligently to expedite this as much as possible,” Nagi said.

Due to the size of this project, TDOT has divided improvements to SR 34 into three phases. Phase 1, from SR 32 to near East Morris Boulevard, is identified for funding in TDOT’s 10-Year Project Plan, with construction scheduled for April 2025. Estimated completion date of this roadway to Morris Boulevard is September 4, 2029.

This stretch of U.S. 11E is the only roadway between Knoxville and Bristol that is not at least four lanes. On all of the roadway, there will be two 12-foot travel lanes in each direction with a continuous center turn lane. There will also be 12-foot shoulders.

Two other stages will be constructed in future years.

A route of U.S. 11E from East Morris Boulevard to west of Old Stagecoach Road in Russellville, as well as from west of Old Stagecoach Road to Steadman Road in Whitesburg, south of Bulls Gap. Both sections are pending right of way acquisition and funding availability from TDOT.