Unique Diverging Diamond Interchange to Open in Alcoa

 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Department of Transportation officials will join the city of Alcoa to officially open a new Diverging Diamond Interchange that connects U.S. 129/SR-115 to Middlesettlements Road and Bessemer Street. The interchange will be one of only five open to traffic in the United States and is the first Diverging Diamond Interchange in Tennessee.

 

The eastbound lanes of the new interchange will open to traffic on Saturday morning, December 11, and the westbound lanes will open on Tuesday morning, December 14.  TDOT partnered with the city of Alcoa to design and build the new interchange and the two agencies will hold a media availability event before the official opening of the interchange on Monday, December 13 at 1:30 p.m. on the new U.S. 129 north ramp to Bessemer Street.

 

The $2.9 million interchange was chosen by Alcoa community leaders to optimize three lanes, decrease construction time and save money that would have been needed to build a new bridge.  

 

The new interchange will re-align Middlesettlements Road to tie into Bessemer Street. The interchange is actually located under U.S. 129 and is the first in the nation in operation that is located beneath a highway.

 

Concrete barriers, stop bars, detailed signs, pavement markings and traffic signals will be used to guide motorists through the diverging diamond design. The interchange will also be studied by the Federal Highway Administration.

 

Media representatives are encouraged to attend the media event for interviews with TDOT personnel, Alcoa officials and designers with Gresham Smith and Partners. The media availability will provide the press with a close up look at the interchange before the westbound lanes open on Tuesday.

 

Where:            U.S. 129 north ramp to Bessemer Street. Map is attached. Video of the new interchange is also attached and available on the TDOT website.

 

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