Fri
May 2 2008
02:07 pm
Knox BLVD re-visited.
By: Bill Pittman

Just over 5 years ago, a group of thoughtful folks got together to discuss an idea that sounded crazy to some...don't improve I-40 through downtown, remove I-40 through downtown. Some folks scoffed at the idea while TDOT said it wouldn't work and that 640 could never handle 40's traffic.

Our idea was to simply to seek additional public input on a possibly more appropriate location for 40 rather than through downtown but increased public input was not a TDOT desire nor one of the Ashe administration.

Personally, I think that eliminating 40 through downtown would have made Knoxville's downtown more livable and visionary. Knox B.L.V.D. (Knoxville, building a livable & visionary downtown). Now that construction has begun, let’s examine what the potential would have been if 640 had been re-named “40” and the connection of 275 to 40 at 640’s western side could have been:

1. Knoxvillians entering downtown from the east would use a non-disconnected Magnolia Ave. which rather than being isolated from the city’s center would have begun to flourish.
2. Those entering downtown from the north and south would have used the same routes that they have now.
3. Those entering downtown from the west, would have followed the “abandoned” 40 spur from 640 which would have dropped down to a tree-lined boulevard making downtown much easier to navigate. (Turn right onto 17th for campus, turn right onto Henley for the Convention Center,t turn right onto Gay for Market Square, turn right onto Central to access the Old City, etc. etc.)
4. The footprint of the abandoned section of 40 from Fourth & Gill through Park Ridge would lead along an urban park to the Knoxville Zoo.
5. Huge amounts of land would be once again placed upon the tax rolls.
6. Through travelers seeking gas, quick dining or motels could purchase these from nearly any exit along the new “40” (Old 640) thereby creating increased tax revenues from the folks that now wait ‘til their through downtown to have their needs met.
7. Huge portions of urban neighborhoods would be reclaimed for appropriate expansion of housing stock thereby thwarting costly suburban sprawl.
8. The denser population might be able to support enhanced mass-transit options helping to relieve some of our air quality issues.
9. Struggling East Towne Mall (like Todd Steed, I can’t say Knoxville Center) would become an outlet mall and destination attraction…also increasing tax revenues.
10. There would be no need for the still un-needed James White Parkway which would be torn out to expose the underlying creek and create a greenway/river walk concept ala’ Greenville, SC.
11. The CBID would be accessible by foot from the contiguous neighborhoods.

Instead, we have the pleasure of a bigger version of something that shouldn't have been where it is in the first place. Since we didn't learn from our past mistakes, let's hope that our children do.

Topics:
Justin's picture

10. There would be no need

Submitted by Justin on Fri, 2008/05/02 - 2:32pm.

10. There would be no need for the still un-needed James White Parkway which would be torn out to expose the underlying creek and create a greenway/river walk concept ala’ Greenville, SC.

I like that idea. Is there any reason to keep JWP open? Doesnt Hall of Fame pretty much take you to the same places?

Johnny Ringo's picture

I dunno - I think you need

Submitted by Johnny Ringo on Fri, 2008/05/02 - 2:36pm.

I dunno - I think you need JWP in addition to Hall of Fame to handle sports/concert/event traffic if for no other reason.

Bill Pittman's picture

I thought Hall of Fame

Submitted by Bill Pittman on Fri, 2008/05/02 - 2:50pm.

I thought Hall of Fame handled the traffic fine while JWP was not open even when I attended a couple of sporting events on campus.

Lisa Starbuck's picture

This makes too much sense

Submitted by Lisa Starbuck on Fri, 2008/05/02 - 2:57pm.

That's why it won't happen here. Cynical I know, but out-of-the-box thinking has never been Knoxville's strong point.

Rachel's picture

Even Victor Ashe said that

Submitted by Rachel on Fri, 2008/05/02 - 3:29pm.

Even Victor Ashe said that putting I40 through the middle of the city had been a mistake. But like everybody else, he couldn't summon up the vison and courage to do anything about it.

jbr's picture

Here are some comments from

Submitted by jbr on Fri, 2008/05/02 - 3:44pm.

Here are some comments from TDOT regarding Metro Pulse naming James White Parkway the worst waste of downtown space.

"As to the James White Parkway 's design, it provides an option to Chapman Highway and Henley Street for those in South Knoxville to access Downtown and Interstate 40. There is a study underway to extend the James White Parkway further into South Knoxville , as requested by the James White Parkway - Chapman Highway Corridor Study Task Force. City Councilmen Joe Hultquist and Chris Woodhull co-chaired the community based, 29-member Task Force.

If you desire additional information, you may contact Mr. John Hunter, Project Manager at 865.594-2405 or e-mail him at john.hunter@state.tn.us.

Sincerely,

Fred B. Corum
Region Director
TDOT - Region One"

Bill Pittman's picture

Mr. Corum makes it sound

Submitted by Bill Pittman on Fri, 2008/05/02 - 4:00pm.

Mr. Corum makes it sound like it is "either / or"; Hall of Fame could have been engineered to connect the JWP at its end...oh wait, it does and thus is completely and totally unnecessary. Knoxville has strangled itself in concrete and asphalt...oh well.

Factchecker's picture

What's this B.L.V.D. crap?

Submitted by Factchecker on Fri, 2008/05/02 - 10:40pm.

Knoxville has strangled itself in concrete and asphalt...oh well.

But the mission, which is awarding big contracts to powerful concrete and asphalt contractors, is always fulfilled.

cafkia's picture

Keep in mind that the

Submitted by cafkia on Sat, 2008/05/03 - 2:40pm.

Keep in mind that the primary function of JWP and I40 is to allow folks to travel through certain areas of Knoxville without being tempted to stop and sample the wares being offered anywhere near those routes. That seems like an odd sort of thing for allegedly pro-commerce reich-wingers to be against and, on the surface it seems counterintuitive to have progressive liberals who are fighting for those business.

That is just the world we live in I suppose. Up is down, dirty air is clean, sick forests are healthy, and children get left behind.

By the time the interstate opens again, there is a solid chance that gas will be $6 or $7 a gallon, traffic counts will be greatly reduced, vehicle size will be greatly reduced, and the road will be overkill. But to hell with progress, let's fight the previous war.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

CAFKIA

----------------------------------------------------------- 

It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.
  - William G. McAdoo

jbr's picture

I have not noticed anything

Submitted by jbr on Sat, 2008/05/03 - 11:44pm.

I have not noticed anything negative. When I come from downtown under the tunnel to i-40 west it is obviously easier to get on 40.

I am curious if the on ramp from 1-640 east to i-75 north is backed up. It was inadequate before the closure.

I typically would take Clinton highway exit and get on i-75 north at merchants to avoid it.

It will be ironic if the Smartfix project proves i-640 is a better choice for i-40 and Smartfix is unecessary in that
that should not be the location of the interstate

mjw's picture

Take 275

Submitted by mjw on Sun, 2008/05/04 - 1:36am.

I am curious if the on ramp from 1-640 east to i-75 north is backed up. It was inadequate before the closure.

That's why TDOT is routing I-75 traffic away from 640. The recommended route is to stay on I-40 to the I-275 interchange and go north from there.

Stick Thrower's picture

275 route

Submitted by Stick Thrower on Sun, 2008/05/04 - 12:09pm.

That was a smart move that ought to be kept permanently--routing I-75N traffic up 275 instead of the old 75/640 route. That 275/640/275 intersection is idiotic for through traffic toward Lexington on N75. The re-route splits the 40/75 through traffic up E. of Papermill where there are six lanes and takes the pressure off that one lane up by the Clinton highway mess.

I agree that, as the next few weeks go by, what was suggested 5 years ago will prove to have been a very reasonable solution--improve 640 (done) rename it I-40, change the signs, and just let the local traffic use the existing stretch of 40 (Knox bvld) through downtown.

Stan G's picture

I-40, Aint Gonna Be What It Use To Be

Submitted by Stan G on Thu, 2008/05/15 - 11:11pm.

(link...)

The one good thing about being pessimistic is - at least it shows you understand the situation. -- Unknown

bizgrrl's picture

Thanks, Stan. The aging

Submitted by bizgrrl on Fri, 2008/05/16 - 7:29am.

Thanks, Stan.

The aging Crosstown Expressway — an elevated 4.5-mile stretch of Interstate 40 — will be demolished in 2012. An old-fashioned boulevard and a mile-long park will be constructed in its place.

Geez, why does this area have to be so far behind the times? By the time they get these changes to I-40 done, someone will finally propose to get rid of it.

jbr's picture

How often does an

Submitted by jbr on Fri, 2008/05/16 - 9:51pm.

How often does an opportunity like this fall in someones lap like it has Knoxville and TDOT? They could make the move to the blvd.

Along the same line of thinking....

"The strict segregation of cars and people turned out to have unintended consequences on towns and cities. Wide roads sliced through residential areas, dividing neighborhoods, discouraging pedestrian activity, and destroying the human scale of the urban environment."

(link...)

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