TDOT Recommends Choice Lanes or a Wider I-40/I-75 West of Knoxville; Public Comments Due Nov. 26
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has finished its I-40/I-75 West Knoxville Corridor study. It recommends two options for the 17 miles from Loudon County to I-640: one added lane each way, or two priced Choice Lanes each way. Public comments are open through Nov. 26.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has picked two options for fixing traffic on Interstate 40 and Interstate 75 west of Knoxville. The public can weigh in until Nov. 26.
TDOT has finished the I-40/I-75 West Knoxville Corridor Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) Study. It covers about 17 miles, from the I-40/I-75 interchange in Loudon County to the I-640 interchange just west of downtown Knoxville. WATE reported that the study took more than two years of analysis and public meetings.
The study recommends two alternatives. One would add a regular lane in each direction. The other would add two priced Choice Lanes in each direction while keeping every existing lane free. TDOT says these are recommendations, not final project commitments.
This corridor runs past Farragut, Turkey Creek, Cedar Bluff and West Hills, where many West Knox County homeowners drive every day. Here is what TDOT recommended, what it rejected, and how to comment.
The two recommended options
General Purpose Lane Widening
This option would add one general purpose lane in each direction for most of the corridor. It would also modernize the interstate and fix problems such as short merge and weave areas and narrow shoulders.
Westbound, the widening would start just west of the I-40/I-75 system interchange. Eastbound, it would start at Watt Road. Both directions would run to the I-40/I-75 bridge over Middlebrook Pike.
Choice Lanes – Papermill Elevated
This option would add two Choice Lanes in each direction. All existing general purpose lanes would stay open to everyone. The Choice Lanes would use dynamic pricing to manage demand, and TDOT says a user fee would never be charged on the existing lanes.
The Choice Lanes would run from just west of the I-40/I-75 interchange to the bridge over Middlebrook Pike. They would be mostly at ground level. For about two miles, from east of Cedar Bluff Road to east of Papermill Drive, they would be elevated to reduce right-of-way impacts at the interchanges.
The options side by side
| Feature | General Purpose Lane Widening | Choice Lanes – Papermill Elevated |
|---|---|---|
| New lanes | One general purpose lane each direction | Two Choice Lanes each direction |
| Cost to drivers | No new fee | Dynamic pricing on Choice Lanes; existing lanes stay free |
| Western end | Just west of the system interchange (westbound); Watt Road (eastbound) | Just west of the I-40/I-75 interchange |
| Eastern end | I-40/I-75 bridge over Middlebrook Pike | I-40/I-75 bridge over Middlebrook Pike |
| Elevated section | None described | About two miles, east of Cedar Bluff Road to east of Papermill Drive |
Source: Tennessee Department of Transportation.
What the study ruled out
WATE reported that the study looked at several other ideas:
- Express bus: A bus line from the Cedar Bluff Road area to Middlebrook Pike and Sutherland Avenue was found unviable. The study said ridership would not be high enough to reduce congestion.
- I-75 bypass: A long-discussed I-75 bypass around Knoxville was not recommended because of community and environmental impacts.
- Technology tools: Ramp metering, variable speed limits supported by artificial intelligence, and freight-priority automated truck lanes could help, but not as standalone fixes.
How the study got here
The public has weighed in before. TDOT held its first round of open-house meetings in November 2025 and a second round in June and July 2026. Those meetings included interactive stations where residents could learn about the alternatives being studied. TDOT says comments received during this final review period will be documented and considered before the report is finalized.
Funding and next steps
TDOT's 10-Year Project Plan already includes funding for two projects on this corridor. The department says both recommended alternatives were designed to work alongside those planned interchange improvements.
Neither recommendation has funding yet. Before either one can become a scheduled project, TDOT must identify and allocate the money. After public and agency comments and Federal Highway Administration review, TDOT plans to carry the study's results into future federal environmental reviews.
Dates to know and how to comment
- Through Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026: Public comment period on the PEL study.
- Through Nov. 26: Printed study materials available at Lenoir City Public Library (120 W Broadway St.), Farragut Branch Library (417 N Campbell Station Rd.) and Bearden Branch Library (100 Golf Club Rd.).
You can send comments three ways:
- Email: westknox@publicinput.com
- Phone: 1-855-925-2801, project code 11074
- Mail: TDOT I-40/I-75 West Knoxville Corridor PEL Study Comments, 312 Rosa L Parks Ave., 24th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243-0349
TDOT asks commenters to name the section, page, figure, table or appendix they are writing about when possible.
Farragut keeps growing along the corridor
The study arrives as Farragut, at the western end of Knox County, keeps adding people and businesses. WATE reported on Nov. 2 that the town has more than 25,000 residents and is growing about 1.7% a year.
The biggest recent project is Biddle Farms near Kingston Pike, which turned a former strip mall into a mixed-use development with 286 apartments and restaurants including Tupelo Honey, Nekter Juice Bar, Super Chix and Parlor Doughnuts. Country Burrito and Paris Baguette are expected to open there.
Farther west, Westerly Commons has a new Publix. Plans for Watt Road include a mixed-use project called the Serenade with commercial space and 30 townhomes.
Room to grow is running out. Town administrator David Smoak said only about 10% of Farragut's land remains available for development.
What it means for West Knox County homeowners
Commute time affects demand
Buyers who work downtown or near Cedar Bluff often ask how long the drive takes. A wider interstate or priced express lanes could change that answer, but neither is funded yet. For now, today's commute is what buyers will judge.
Construction is a long way off
These are study recommendations, not projects with a start date. Do not base your sale date on an assumed construction start or completion date.
Limited land is one pricing factor
Limited developable land can constrain new supply, but it does not guarantee higher prices. Demand, financing, condition and competing listings also matter. For local pricing, see How much is my Farragut home worth in 2026? and How fast do homes sell in Knoxville?. For a recent town approval, read Farragut OKs Kingston Pike Village; Knoxville Home Prices.
Thinking of selling in Knoxville or Farragut?
Get a free home valuation to see where your home stands today. If you would rather skip showings, request a cash offer. Our proven system is built to sell homes across Knox County.
What did TDOT recommend for I-40/I-75 west of Knoxville?
TDOT recommended two alternatives: General Purpose Lane Widening, which adds one lane in each direction for most of the corridor, and Choice Lanes – Papermill Elevated, which adds two priced Choice Lanes in each direction while keeping existing lanes free.
How long is the West Knoxville Corridor study area?
The study covers about 17 miles of I-40/I-75, from the I-40/I-75 interchange in Loudon County to the I-640 interchange just west of downtown Knoxville.
Would drivers have to pay to use I-40 in West Knoxville?
Under the Choice Lanes option, drivers could pay a dynamic price to use the new Choice Lanes. TDOT says all existing general purpose lanes would stay open to everyone without a user fee.
How do I comment on the West Knoxville Corridor study?
Comments are accepted through Nov. 26, 2026, by email at westknox@publicinput.com, by phone at 1-855-925-2801 with project code 11074, or by mail to TDOT in Nashville.
Is the I-40 Choice Lanes project funded?
No. TDOT says the study recommendations are not final project commitments, and it must identify and allocate funding before either option can become a programmed project.
Source links
- Tennessee Department of Transportation — I-40/I-75 West Knoxville Corridor PEL Study
- WATE — TDOT recommends I-40 choice lanes in Knoxville as possible traffic solution (Nov. 3, 2026)
- WATE — New retail and housing reshape Farragut as limited land could challenge future growth (Nov. 2, 2026)
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