The long awaited Chapman Highway (SR 441) turn lane addition project south of the SR411/SR441 traffic light in Seymour will begin this summer. Blalocks Construction won the bid from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The $1.4 million construction project will add a turn lane from the end of the current lane that is 350 feet from the intersection traffic light on one end down S.R. 441 for 1.1 miles to the small bridge after Foothills Estates according to TDOT.
The extra right-of-ways have been secured and Blalock’s is now waiting on approval of their Storm Water permit from the Department of Environment and Conservation before the first phase of construction begins. TDEC and TDOT generally transmit information for permits back and forth on state road projects with sign offs by the winning bidder. There was a small glitch that is in the process of being corrected that has delayed the start by several weeks. Some site preparation such as grading down hills and filling in low places could begin within days of receiving the permit according to Doug Blalock, project manager for Blalocks.
During the construction phase, traffic issues along the renovated sector could be difficult for commuters on their way to and from work, and travelers heading into the Smokies. The project will take some months to complete, and businesses along the right of way in the construction area will have to bear the brunt of slowed traffic and restricted access while the construction is underway. “We will make every effort to minimize the traffic congestion for the community,” Blalock told The Herald.
The biggest time factor will be moving utilities. Water, phone, cable and electric lines will all have to be relocated to make way for the road widening. Some utility companies are already getting started with the movement of lines. The best-case projection, with clear skies and no problems or surprises, is that everything could be moved in a six-week period, but the relocation could continue deep into the fall if weather and circumstances do not cooperate.
Besides the extra 12 feet needed for a turn lane, shoulders of 10 feet on each side will be added to allow vehicles room to pull off and slow for right hand turns out of the flow of traffic. Blue stakes have already been placed by Blalocks’ engineers along the general expansion. While plans are to keep the pine trees beside Newell Village, several parking lots that are in right-of-ways may have to be shortened and reconfigured. Blalock hoped that they could keep that to a minimum, but in some places the space is too tight not to cut into the lots.
The TDOT bid expected construction to be completed by mid April of 2004. The date will most likely be extended to May of that year since the permitting has delayed the start time. Though the company hopes to finish long before the deadline, if utility relocation or weather slows the process too much, it could force things into the winter season when paving can’t take place.

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