The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is constructing major improvements to Alcoa Highway (State Route 115, US 129) in Knox and Blount counties. The DOT dreamed big on this one – so big that the 13-mile project was divided into seven segments (three are done).

Traffic usage outgrew Alcoa Highway’s design. Knoxville-to-airport traffic wanted a limited-access, high-speed road, while businesses and residents needed to slow and stop traffic on the main road to access their homes and stores. “Airport Motor Mile” became “Airport, Can’t Get There.”

The improvements extend from SR 35 (Hall Road) to Cherokee Trail (at UT Medical Center).

What’s happening June 2026

Alcoa Highway at Cherokee Trail: CBS is constructing bridge abutment slabs for Bridge 1 over SR-115 Alcoa Hwy. Work will continue at the new UTMC entrance, work in this area includes: slipping curb lines, grading roadway base, paving and striping. Plan was to finish this roundabout by June 1, 2026.

Drill Tech continues work on the soil nail walls 17B, 18, 19, 22, 23 and 24.

CBS has modified traffic lanes at Cherokee Trail and the hospital entrance red light to work on Wall 14, 6A and 6B. CBS continues the Geofoam block fill behind Wall 6C. CBS has started paving on Cherokee Trail. CBS has started construction of Ramp A and Marine Base Rd, currently building Wall 3C. CBS has finished Wall 9B, and will continue work on Walls 9A.

Mark Nagi, communications officer for Region 1, has posted photos here and a video here on his Twitter (X) account.

Alcoa Highway at Topside Road: The contractor continues to work on punch list items including sign adjustments, texture coating and final stabilization activities.

Relocated Alcoa Highway: Contractor is placing deck pans and overhang jacks on bridge 3 and bridge 4 over Pellissippi Parkway. Completed one pier on bridge 5. Completed double barrel box culvert near existing Pellissippi Parkway off ramp. Installation of ditches, storm drains, pouring endwalls, sanitary sewer, lighting, communication and electrical infrastructure continues. Placing embankment on new Pellissippi ramps, and base stone in preparation for paving operations on concrete ramp paving.

Steve Borden (Photo/ UT Knoxville/ CEE)

Salute to Steve Borden

Steve Borden headed Region 1 TDOT for 16 years, retiring in early 2025. A Gibbs High graduate, he was a first-generation college student, graduating from the UT Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) in 1991.

Borden was set to retire after 34 years with TDOT when Hurricane Helene hit. The September 27-29, 2024, storm caused catastrophic flooding and destruction in East Tennessee and western North Carolina. Bridges and roadways were destroyed.

Borden could not leave his coworkers until things settled.

“Within a couple of days, we had over 900 people on the ground. On top of that, there were consultants and contractors working,” Borden recalls.

Borden fielded calls from mayors in locations hit hard by the hurricane. They needed roads open to help trapped citizens and receive emergency supplies. TDOT set “unprecedented” timelines.

“In the first 100 hours, we were able to restore 25 routes,” Borden said. “They may not be perfect, but people can use them. They have connectivity into their community for resources, food supplies, emergency care. We were able to inspect 310 bridges, which is astronomical, and we were able to get seven of the 13 bridges that were out of service reconnected.”

Borden attributes the TDOT team response to CEE training at UT. “Some of the major, major players in the hurricane recovery were people that went to UT and graduated with me,” he said. “That community that was forged on the Hill was a very tight-knit one.”

Steve now works for Lochner, an infrastructure services provider for aviation, surface transportation and water clients.

All-Vols TDOT team

Dexter Justis (BS/CE ‘99, MS/CE ‘01) was promoted to take Borden’s role as regional director. He was the director of project management during hurricane recovery. Justis was just 49 when he died on January 15, 2026, after a short battle with CNS Lymphoma.

Christie Brown (BS/CE ‘98, MS/CE ‘99) was the director of preconstruction; and Amanda Snowden (BS/CE ‘98) was the director of operations.

TDOT leadership at Region 1 today

Amanda Snowden

Amanda Snowden, P.E. is the director of TDOT Region 1, which is based in Knoxville. Snowden is the first woman to head Region 1.

Matt Hart is responsible for directing the administrative, engineering and technical activities for multiple offices within East Tennessee’s 24 counties of Region 1.

Kristin Qualls, P.E. is director of project management.

Christie Brown, P. E. is director of preconstruction, directing the engineering and technical activities for design, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation and survey for projects within the 24 counties of Region 1.