Major Grant Secured to Enhance Safety on Chapman Highway in Knoxville

KNOXVILLE, TENN. – Major Grant Aims to Boost Safety Along Chapman Highway

Knoxville is set to greatly improve safety conditions along one of its busiest roads, Chapman Highway. The City recently received a significant grant of $17.8 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation as part of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. This grant marks the second consecutive year that Knoxville has received support through this initiative, highlighting ongoing efforts to enhance road safety in the region.

Vision for Chapman Highway

During a press conference announcing the grant, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon laid out exciting plans for the project, stating that these renovations are only the first phase of a broader, three-phase strategy aimed at improving safety along Chapman Highway, especially for residents in South Knoxville. The area has gained more traffic due to business and residential developments, making safety improvements even more crucial.

Tragically, the need for such improvements is underscored by the fact that earlier this year, a pedestrian lost their life in a hit-and-run incident on this road. This incident brought attention to the increasing traffic concerns, particularly near the intersection of Fort Avenue and Chapman Highway, where new traffic lights and crosswalks are set to be added, especially due to the opening of Kern’s Food Hall.

Upgrades for Pedestrians and Cyclists

The proposed improvements will include the installation of a separated greenway shared path. This path is designed to keep pedestrian and cyclist traffic safely away from vehicles, utilizing a “healthy curb” and grassy areas as buffers. Additionally, new medians will be introduced along Chapman Highway similar to those currently found on Magnolia Avenue. These medians aim to help drivers recognize that they are not on a high-speed highway, encouraging them to slow down.

“Everybody is a pedestrian at some point in their life,” Kincannon emphasized, discussing the importance of safe pedestrian access. She stated, “Even if you use your car a lot, you still get out and want to move around safely. It’s an equity issue; safety on the roads should not depend on whether you own a car or not.” Making these areas safer will promote a healthier lifestyle by allowing people to walk and bike without the constant fear of fast-moving traffic.

Part of a Larger Strategy

The upgrades along Chapman Highway are not just an isolated effort but part of Knoxville’s wider Vision Zero Strategy, which aims to eliminate fatalities on the city’s roads by 2040. As Kincannon stated, “Every single person who dies crossing our streets is an avoidable death. We can’t just rely on people to drive carefully; we need to design our roads to be safer.”

Local Contribution and Future Plans

In addition to the federal grant, the City of Knoxville will provide a 20% local match, bringing the total funds available for safety improvements to around $22.25 million. This allocation not only covers enhancements on Chapman Highway but also supports safety planning initiatives in other locations throughout the city.

The project is tentatively titled “Safer Knoxville 2.0,” representing the city’s ongoing commitment to roadway safety. The first part of this title echoes last year’s SS4A grant application called “Safer Knoxville, Strategic Action towards Fatality Elimination on Roadways,” which targeted improvements along East Magnolia Avenue.

In a related development, Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation was also awarded a separate SS4A grant of $1.7 million to enhance pedestrian access in the Western Heights and Beaumont neighborhoods, further illustrating the city’s commitment to improving safety for all its residents.

As the project unfolds, Knoxville residents can look forward to safer streets, enhanced pedestrian paths, and a holistic approach to transportation that prioritizes their well-being.