SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn.
— A highway improvement project underway in Sevier and Jefferson counties is set to enhance both safety and tourism in East Tennessee. The nearly four-mile stretch of Highway 411/State Route 35, located between Sims Road in Sevier County and the Chestnut Hill area of Jefferson County, is currently under construction.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is overseeing the project, which will transform the road from its current two-lane design into a five-lane highway. This will include two lanes in each direction, a center turn lane, and shoulders. According to Mark Nagi, a spokesperson for TDOT, the project will straighten out areas with significant curvature and improve the overall efficiency and safety of the road for both local commuters and visitors.
Brian Lowe, who works at Tennessee Legend Distillery near the construction zone, expressed optimism about the project’s potential benefits. Lowe noted that the current two-lane setup often causes traffic backups, particularly when vehicles are waiting to turn into local attractions. The road expansion, he believes, will make it easier for drivers to access the area and alleviate congestion, improving the experience for both residents and visitors.
The stretch of highway is situated near popular tourist destinations, such as Sevierville, and features several attractions that draw visitors. Among these are the Bush’s Beans Visitor Center and Café, Forbidden Caverns, and a local deer farm and petting zoo. Lowe hopes the improvements will encourage more people to explore these lesser-known gems of East Tennessee, which often get overlooked in favor of the larger, more widely recognized destinations like Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.
“We have a lot of attractions in this area that people don’t know about,” Lowe said. “Having a better road will give visitors more incentive to make the trip and experience what this region has to offer.”
Nagi from TDOT believes the project will provide more options for travelers and help increase tourism in the region. “Having a safer, more efficient roadway is going to benefit not just the locals, but also visitors coming through on their way to Sevierville or other popular destinations,” he said. “Ultimately, this is a project that will help the community as a whole, by making the area more accessible and attracting more tourists to experience the local attractions.”
With the project expected to be completed in the coming months, it is clear that the improvements to Highway 411/State Route 35 will have lasting impacts on both the safety of drivers and the vitality of the local tourism industry.
