Montlake Drive Closing

Alcoa Highway Update

This has been an interesting couple of weeks. On October 19th, we informed you that Montlake Road would be closed at the intersection to Alcoa Highway for the next 6-7 months while the Alcoa Highway project is completed. This presented a problem for our neighborhood because as many of you experienced on Wednesday morning, it resulted in an additional 10 – 25 minutes of travel time to access Alcoa Highway at the stop sign located at the Maloney Road/Alcoa Hwy flyover and to drive through the construction zone towards Knoxville. If we were forced to take this route each day, it would have significantly impacted each of us.

As a result of this announcement, we contacted State Senator Becky Duncan Massey to determine if there were any actions that could be taken to address this situation. On Monday, Senator Massey met personally with the Tennessee Commissioner of Transportation Clay Bright on our behalf, as well as followed up with direct communications with the TDOT regional director about our concerns. Due to her efforts, and the cooperation of TDOT leadership, Montlake was reopened within 24 hours. Moreover, we have been advised:

1. Montlake will not close until (a) TDOT’s contractor has completed the Montlake fly over and the service (access) road on the east side of Alcoa Highway is completed which will ensure that we have access to northbound Alcoa Highway towards downtown, and (b) TDOT’s contractor has completed the service (access) road on the west side of Alcoa Highway which will ensure that we have access to southbound Alcoa Highway towards Maryville.

2. TDOT’s contractor will provide the Lakemoor Hills HOA periodic email updates (we anticipate every two (2) weeks) concerning the status of the project in order to avoid any future surprises.

We’re pleased that this concern has been reasonably addressed, and if you cross paths with Senator Massey in the future, please thank her for working with TDOT to solve this problem.
Mike Parker, LHHA President