We know interstates are busy, but these 10 Knox County roads are jammed, too

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Knox County is home to the meeting point of two major interstates: 40 and 75.

This means that in addition to commuter traffic, plenty of commercial truck traffic flows through the region, too. There’s enough combined traffic that the busiest stretches in all of Tennessee are on the interstates that pass through Knox County, and county leaders are looking into solutions.

So what about just avoiding the interstates to beat the traffic jams? You can try, but you should still expect a good amount of traffic.

Here are the top 10 busiest non-interstate sections of road in Knox County in 2021, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

1. Pellissippi Parkway, south of Lovell Road

  • Vehicles per day in 2021: 79,727
  • Percent change from 2011 to 2021: Up 49.50%
  • Region: West Knox County

Outside of the interstates, Pellissippi Parkway is one of Knoxville’s biggest roads. The busiest part of that road is in the southbound lane, between Oak Ridge and the exit for I-40.

2. Pellissippi Parkway, south of Dutchtown Road

  • Vehicles per day in 2021: 70,019
  • Percent change from 2011 to 2021: Up 7.27%
  • Region: West Knox County

About a mile south of the No. 1 busiest section, this stretch of the southbound lane on Pellissippi Parkway carries nearly 10,000 fewer vehicles per day. Maybe people hop off at the Dutchtown Road exit.

3. Alcoa Highway, north of Kingston Pike exit

  • Vehicles per day in 2021: 68,556
  • Percent change from 2011 to 2021: Up 10.34%
  • Region: Between Marble City and Fort Sanders

Moving east from the Hardin Valley area to the UT campus area, this stretch of road is at the top of Alcoa Highway heading south. It sees people heading toward work in Blount County, McGhee Tyson Airport and UT’s campus.

4. Alcoa Highway at the Tennessee River

  • Vehicles per day in 2021: 62,553
  • Percent change from 2011 to 2021: Up 12.11%
  • Region: University of Tennessee at Knoxville campus

This stretch of road is on the northbound side of Alcoa Highway right before a split. If you go right, you’ll exit to the university and Neyland Drive. Keep left, and you’ll head toward the interstates and the Kingston Pike exit.

5. Pellissippi Parkway, south of Hardin Valley Road

  • Vehicles per day in 2021: 59,077
  • Percent change from 2011 to 2021: Up 3.05%
  • Region: West Knox County

We’re back to the southbound lane of Pellissippi Parkway, just north of Carmichael Road. Anntionette Crowell, who opened a State Farm agency in the area, previously told Knox News she always tells clients to avoid that intersection at all costs.

“Most of the time if you GPS home for my office, going back toward Knoxville, it will tell you to go out Carmichael, and there’s no red light or anything there,” Crowell told Knox News back in November. “So when you turn out to Pellissippi you have to floor it. I tell everyone that comes by my office, ‘Don’t go that way.'”

6. Pellissippi Parkway, north of George Williams Road

  • Vehicles per day in 2021: 54,523
  • Percent change from 2011 to 2021: Up 7.10%
  • Region: West Knox County

It seems the farther south you travel down Pellissippi Parkway, the less traffic. This northbound stretch of road brings drivers toward exits for Kingston Pike and I-40.

7. Western Avenue, east of 44th Street

  • Vehicles per day in 2021: 52,000
  • Percent change from 2011 to 2021: Up 18.75%
  • Region: West Knoxville

While all of the other roads on this list run north-south, this stretch goes east-west. Being in between the I-40 exit and a smattering of fast food restaurants, it’s easy to see why this eastbound stretch of Western Avenue carries so many cars.

8. Alcoa Highway, north of Gov. John Sevier Highway

  • Vehicles per day in 2021: 49,262
  • Percent change from 2011 to 2021: Up 6.79%
  • Region: South Knox County

The farther you head south along Alcoa Highway toward the airport, the less traffic you’ll see. Although construction in the area might make it feel more congested than it really is.

9. Oak Ridge Highway at Guinn Road

  • Vehicles per day in 2021: 48,147
  • Percent change from 2011 to 2021: Down 7.51%
  • Region: North Knox County

This point is just north of where Oak Ridge Highway merges with Pellissippi Parkway, so it makes sense this southbound lane sees a good amount of traffic. Interestingly enough, this is the only stretch of road on this list that’s seen a decline in traffic volume over the last 10 years.

10. Pellissippi Parkway, north of Bluegrass Road

  • Vehicles per day in 2021: 47,990
  • Percent change from 2011 to 2021: Up 8.68%
  • Region: Southwest Knox County

Rounding out the list is yet another stretch of Pellissippi Parkway, this time heading north from Northshore Town Center.

Silas Sloan covers growth and development in East Tennessee for Knox News. He can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow his work on Twitter @silasloan, or on Instagram @knox.growth. and sign up for the free, weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter. Unlock premium perks and support strong local journalism at knoxnews.com/subscribe.



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