Road construction won’t delay travelers during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is once again halting all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways in anticipation of higher traffic volumes across the state. No temporary lane closures will be allowed for construction on Tennessee roadways beginning at 6:00 a.m. Friday, December 22, 2023, through 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
AAA expects an estimated 2.7 million Tennesseans to travel between December 23 and January 1 with most of them driving.
“Safety is our top priority and with so many people expected to travel Tennessee roadways during the holidays, we want to keep traffic moving and get everyone to their destinations,” said Deputy Governor & TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “As always, please wear your seatbelt, reduce your speed, avoid distractions, and move over for emergency vehicles.”
Except for a few long-term closures that must remain for safety, all construction-related closures will be suspended during the holiday period. Workers may still be on-site in some construction zones. Drivers should obey all posted speed limits, particularly in construction areas. Slower speeds are necessary in work zones due to the temporary layout of the roadway and will be enforced. Drivers convicted of speeding through work zones where workers are present face a fine of $250 to $500, plus court fees and possibly increased insurance premiums.
Get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras from your desktop or mobile device at https://smartway.tn.gov/traffic?position=-85.970767,35.88416963,7&features=incidents,traffic Travelers can also dial 511 for statewide travel information. As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for their destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
The Roane County Sheriff’s Office attempted the stop near Kingston late Sunday night. (Courtesy: RCSO)
Kingston, TN (WOKI) With the help of their drone “Shadow,” the Roane County Sheriff’s Office arrests an attempted murder suspect after a traffic stop late Sunday evening.
RCSO officials say deputies attempted to stop a car near Kingston after running a red light. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as William Battle, then reportedly tried to run from deputies, losing control and crashing his car.
Deputies deployed the drone after Battle and his passengers exited the car and fled, on foot, into nearby woods.
The drone located Battle, and he was taken into custody.
RCSO confirmed that Battle is wanted out of New York and Ohio for multiple counts of attempted first-degree murder and other crimes. Local charges are now pending according to officials.
The officer responded to a 911 call for help in early December. She fired a shot while responding to the scene, but no one was hurt. (Courtesy: KPD)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville police release body camera footage Monday from a shooting earlier this month on Pemmbrooke Shire Lane showing Officer Arim Ismail’s response to a 911 text for help.
The incident occurred early in the morning on December 2. KPD officials say responding officers found a man with a gun, and Ismail fired a shot before she and the other officers took cover. No one was hurt during the shooting. The man was taken into custody and then to the hospital for a mental health evaluation. At this time, no criminal charges are on file for the man.
The entire body camera footage, as released by KPD, can be viewed here.
Ismail, who is a 2023 graduate of the Basic Recruit Academy, was placed on a routine leave during the first part of an internal investigation into the officer-involved shooting; she has since returned to duty.
The internal, administrative investigation, which is being led by the Office of Professional Standards, is still ongoing, KPD said.
Knoxville, TN (WVLT) – After two decades at the Knoxville Expo Center, the Stewart Promotions Flea Market will move to the historic Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park next year.
“We’re traveling to Chilhowee Park, which ain’t far from here, over to the fairgrounds. I’m looking forward to that, but I just hope and pray that it would be just half as good as it’s been here for the last 20-3 years,” said longtime flea market vendor Scott Kitts. “I’ve been very successful here and I thank God for all of my loyal customers that I have.”
Vendors such as Kitts have been longstanding shop owners at the Knoxville flea market. After 21 years at the same place, they hope their customers will continue to follow them to their next location.
“I’m really going to miss it here a lot, and I just hope the customers will follow us, and I’m sure they will a lot of them,” said Kitts. “I’ve already been told that they’ll follow us there at the Jacobs Building over at the Chilhowee Park.”
Some flea market veterans, such as Kitts, have been in the same spot in the same building for many years. The Expo Center is like a second home where their customers always find them, year in and year out.
“The people that run this show are good people that come accommodate me. They make sure I get my same spot all the time, and they’re very, very good people that run this show,” said Vaughn Smith, another longtime vendor. “My loyal customers that come by make it worthwhile for me coming here.”
Copyright 2023 WVLT. All rights reserved. Story courtesy of WVLT
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is now soliciting comments on the 2024-25 hunting season dates and regulations. The comment period is open Dec. 15 through Jan. 15, 2024.
This is an opportunity for the public to share ideas and opinions about hunting seasons and regulations with TWRA. Public comments will be considered by Agency staff and may be included in proposed regulations. Comments can be made by accessing the website: https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/twra/wildlife-survey.html.
A preview of the Agency’s recommendations for the hunting seasons will be made at the March meeting of the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission and the final recommendations made at the April meeting.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) revealed its first-ever proposed 10-year fiscally-constrained project plan today, with the goal of better communicating with citizens and communities of the long-term investment strategy for infrastructure in Tennessee. The $15 billion fiscally constrained plan includes both the annual TDOT work program budget of approximately $1.2 billion for 10 years plus the $3 billion State General Fund appropriation provided in the Transportation Modernization Act (TMA), proposed by Governor Lee, and passed by the General Assembly earlier this year. There are 93 site-specific capacity-type projects in the plan, 46 of which are funded fully or in part by the $3 billion. For the first time, TDOT has identified the funding necessary to complete all projects in the plan, ensuring “what gets started, gets finished.”
“As families and businesses continue moving to Tennessee in record numbers, our transportation assets must be ready to serve our citizens and visitors,” said Governor Bill Lee. “I am proud of TDOT for their leadership in creating this 10-year project plan to guide investments in rural and urban communities that will modernize our transportation systems.”
This first-ever 10-year fiscally constrained project plan is supported by a new data-driven prioritization process that allows for a more objective review of infrastructure projects across Tennessee. The plan is a road map that will be reevaluated annually to consider the changing needs of our people, economy and infrastructure. It permits a long-term investment strategy that will inform TDOT’s annual budget proposal to the General Assembly for consideration.
Fifty-five percent of the $15 billion is identified for construction projects reflected on the 10-year project plan list, with the remaining 45 percent budgeted for programs that TDOT allocates annually based on need. These programs include, but are not limited to, resurfacing and bridge repair. Further, it is important to note that TDOT will allocate an additional approximately $6 billion in state and federal funds over the next 10 years (nearly $600 million annually) in partnership with airports, transit agencies, counties, cities, and other entities to address multimodal access, mobility, and safety.
This 10-year fiscally constrained plan focuses efforts on what can be effectively delivered by TDOT within conservatively projected available revenue. Three important aspects were considered in the development of this plan and the prioritization process by which it was created: performance, delivery and cost. The result is a pipeline of projects that are urgent, feasible, actionable, and funded within the next decade.
“TDOT is proud to establish this fiscally responsible infrastructure investment program for the state of Tennessee,” said Deputy Governor & TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “This plan focuses efforts on what can be effectively delivered by TDOT within available revenue, further opening the communication with local communities on what is feasible. We know the outstanding need for infrastructure projects across Tennessee is at least over $30 billion, however, this long-term plan is a solid step toward providing a safer and more reliable transportation network for generations to come.”
The 10-Year fiscally constrained project plan leverages TMA revenues against traditional federal and state funding to maximize the number and type of investments that can be delivered over a 10-year period. It delivers TDOT’s current 3-Year Plan as a priority and accelerates IMPROVE Act projects. Additionally, the plan provides important funding for collaboration with local communities, such as Statewide Partnership Program (SPP) projects, and investments in sidewalks and bikeways through grants and other initiatives.
TDOT’s 10-Year fiscally constrained project plan includes Tennessee’s first potential Choice Lanes to serve motorists in some of the most congested urban areas of Tennessee.
Choice Lanes will establish options for motorists in urban areas to experience more reliable travel times through frequently congested corridors. Tennessee’s Choice Lanes will be new, additional lanes that benefit all Tennesseans, by reducing overall traffic in existing general purpose lanes, offering enhanced transit options as multimodal facilities, and improving air quality. TDOT’s Choice Lanes will leverage Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) authorized by the TMA, freeing up state funds to support projects in rural Tennessee. TDOT will be recommending to the General Assembly and the Transportation Modernization Board that the first Choice Lanes project in Tennessee be on I-24 between Nashville and Murfreesboro. Other potential future locations include I-65 between Nashville and I-840, Moccasin Bend in Chattanooga, and I-40 from the I-40/I-75 junction to State Route 158 west of downtown Knoxville.
For more information about the 10-Year fiscally constrained project plan, Choice Lanes, and the inaugural Transportation Modernization Board and its newly named members, visit https://www.tn.gov/tdot/build-with-us.
The Beacon Center of Tennessee, Pork Report 2023 (Courtesy: Facebook)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Raising questions of transparency and use of taxpayer dollars, the City of Knoxville is under fire for using a third party to vet police chief candidates and to avoid open records laws.
Compiled by independent research firm The Beacon Center, the annual “Pork Report,” claims one of the city’s lawyers admitted that the city hired the outside firm at a cost of $43,000 to avoid being subject to open records requests, essentially keeping all information about Knoxville Police Department Chief Paul Noel and his fellow candidates, under wraps during the hiring process.
Usually, government entities like the City of Knoxville are subject to open records laws which allow citizens to request information such as details on prospective police chief hires; however, outside, private firms are not included in those laws.
Beacon says the city is also paying another $67,000 in legal fees to fight a lawsuit over the matter filed by the Knoxville News Sentinel.
Beacon’s yearly “Pork Report” aims to highlight how local governments across Tennessee use tax dollars. You can view the entire report here.
A look at UTMC’s upcoming revamped emergency center (Courtesy: UT Medical Center)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The University of Tennessee Medical Center announced an expansion project for its emergency room Friday.
American Medical Response (AMR), Knox County’s ambulance provider, says the expansion will help with response times which have been a problem in the past.
The expansion promises to double the emergency department’s footprint and establish a dedicated area just for processing patients who take ambulances to the hospital. It’ll be the largest expansion for UT Medical Center since 2001.
The new emergency center will be called the Haslam Family Center for Emergency and Trauma Services in line with what UT officials say is the largest private gift they’ve ever received; that gift came from the Haslam family, earning their name on the building. The project is also funded in part by a state grant.
Remains of fiery plane crash on I-26 in Asheville after engine failure during a flight. (Courtesy: Skyland Fire Dept.)
Asheville, NC (WOKI) Part of I-26 West in North Carolina remains closed following a plane crash Thursday night.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that a Diamond DA-40 crashed along I-26 around 8:15 p.m. after declaring mayday due to engine failure.
“Mayday, mayday, we’ve got oil pressure failure, it looks like, and two ECU failures,” the pilot can be heard saying in a recording of the communication with air traffic control. “We’re coming in.”
In the recording, the pilot then says the engine lost all power but they were able to get it restarted to half power a couple of minutes later.
“Just to let you know guys know, we’ve got our engine restarted,” the pilot said. “We just heard a big bang, though, so we may lose it again here.”
The pilot then reported smoke coming into the cockpit. Unable to make it to the airport, the plane was forced to land on I-26 leading to the fiery crash.
A plane declared mayday before crashing on I-26 near Asheville, NC (Courtesy: Bryce Williams)
Two people were on board the plane; they were sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to the FAA report, the plane was operated by Lift Training Academy and was being used for instruction. FlightAware’s tracker shows the plane traveled from Myrtle Beach to Knoxville, TN on Thursday before the crash in Asheville, North Carolina.
LIFT Academy released the following statement after the crash:
“On Thursday evening, one of our LIFT training flights made an emergency landing on a highway near Asheville, North Carolina. Our certificated flight instructor used their training and experience to land the aircraft without serious injury to themselves or any injury to persons on the ground. We are proud of the skill and composure our pilot and flight student demonstrated throughout the event and grateful to the first responders who attended to the scene to aid our pilots and secure the site. We have a team onsite assisting our pilots and the NTSB in its investigation. Per our standard procedures, we have instituted a 24-hour safety stand down for all LIFT operations.”
On December 13, 2023, at 1:30 pm a Morristown Police Department (MPD) officer who was in his vehicle positioned northbound in the roadway on 25E with all emergency lighting activated to shield citizens and other officers at a traffic crash site, was struck by a truck that failed to move over and hit the rear end of the patrol vehicle.
Fortunately, the officer suffered only minor injuries; however, there could have been a very tragic outcome. Tennessee Code Annotated 55-8-132 has been nicknamed the “Move Over Law.” This law was enacted to keep emergency personnel safe when performing their duties on roadways. The law has been updated to not only include emergency services, but also recovery, highway maintenance, solid waste and utility service vehicles.
Police Chief Roger Overholt stated, “distracted driving is a danger to everyone on our roadways. It is reasonable to believe that had this officer not been protecting the scene with his vehicle, the citizens and officers at the crash site could have been seriously injured or killed.”
Chief Overholt continued, “It’s not just cell phones that can take someone’s attention away from safe driving. Things such as eating, adjusting the radio or climate controls, and animals in the vehicle can cause the driver to take their attention away from the road. We are asking everyone to be aware of their driving behaviors to increase safety in our community.”
The crash investigation is being conducted by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
