KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Tennessee Department of Transportation is moving ahead with plans to reconfigure the I-75 interchange at Emory Road in Powell, converting it to a diverging diamond interchange designed to improve traffic flow and reduce crashes.
“We’re changing this from a traditional diamond interchange to a diverging diamond interchange,” TDOT spokesperson Mark Nagi explained. “This will make for a safer and more efficient interchange and will serve folks in that area for decades to come.”
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The project area serves thousands of drivers each day and backs up during the evening rush, according to businesses nearby. Cassie Cox, the reception desk manager at Bliss Nail Bar on Emory Road, said congestion and lane closures have been hard on customers and staff.
“The traffic honestly is horrible. Around five o’clock, it gets even worse because you have the road closures and so many people backed up. It just makes for a chaotic day for us,” Cox said, adding that some clients arrive 30 to 40 minutes late because of traffic. Despite the frustrations, she is optimistic about the long-term benefits.
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“I think in the end it’s going to be amazing. The traffic flow will be so much better, and we’ll have more business with less traffic once it’s all done.”…