en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Jefferson County to Sevier County widening project on Tennessee Highway 411, led by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), has entered its third phase. General contractor Jones Brothers Inc. plans to complete this highway segment by the end of October 2026. Through realignment and expansion of nearly 4 miles of roadway, the original two-lane highway will be upgraded to a five-lane configuration. This project aims to alleviate traffic pressure on routes to Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains scenic area. The estimated daily traffic capacity is projected to increase from 8,020 vehicles in 2023 to 13,630 vehicles by 2043.
As the final phase of the 9.3-mile-long widening project, this stage involves complex earthwork and the construction of five box culverts. The construction team is working through undeveloped green spaces, excavating a total of 1.456 million cubic yards of earth. Some sections of the new roadbed will be elevated up to 40 feet above the old road. Due to the need for blasting to remove large quantities of rock on-site and the existence of two intersections between the old and new routes, the contractor has built multiple temporary connecting roads to ensure construction does not interfere with existing traffic during the highway project.
Given the project's proximity to Douglas Lake, specialized protective measures have been implemented. The team has increased the size of check dams, installed temporary silt fences, and is concurrently conducting grassland restoration to prevent construction waste from entering the lake's watershed. According to TDOT project manager Jesse Joyner, the total budget for this project is $64 million, with costs shared 80:20 between federal and state governments.
Currently, the project has transitioned from large-scale earthmoving to the final stages of pavement laying and drainage system installation. Nashville-based Jones Brothers Inc. is collaborating with external inspection agencies to ensure all technical parameters meet design standards. Upon full completion in October 2026, this corridor will transform from a basic inter-county road into a regional logistics and tourism artery with high-capacity standards.
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