City of Knoxville, TN
09/02/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/02/2025 18:40
Liberty Street Sidewalk, Bike Lanes OKed
A new sidewalk and bike lanes, plus drainage improvements and a traffic signal upgrade, will be in place on Liberty Street by next spring, thanks to Knoxville City Council votes tonight.
The $1.6 million City, state and federal investment enhances Liberty Street between Sutherland Avenue and Division Street as a multi-modal route - allowing bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders and commuters to share the road safely.
The new sidewalk will be built on the east side of Liberty Street, connecting Sutherland Avenue and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology campus, 1100 Liberty St.
Meanwhile, new bike lanes on Liberty Street between Knott Road and Division Street will connect the existing neighborhood bike route to Third Creek Greenway with existing bike lanes on Liberty toward Middlebrook Pike.
Southern Constructors Inc. is the construction contractor, and Cannon & Cannon Inc. will provide construction engineering and inspection services. Council authorized Mayor Indya Kincannon to execute agreements with the project team members.
In other matters, City Council tonight:
Patio use agreements
• Amended the City Code to give all businesses with beer permits throughout the city the option of applying to use part of the public right-of-way for a patio
• Previously had only been allowed downtown
• Examples: Patios are allowed to extend out into public spaces on Gay Street and on Market Square
• The change is effective immediately; businesses wanting to add patios on sidewalks and in public rights-of-way can apply with the City's Plans Review and Inspections office
Funding for homeless services coordination
• Authorized a $177,400 agreement with the University of Tennessee College of Social Work
• This increase in funding provides streamlined coordination of the KnoxHMIS (Homeless Management Information System), shared by more than 20 service providers and the Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability
• The aim: More efficient delivery of services, getting help to individuals most acutely in crisis, and coordinating a path toward permanent housing
Galbraith School
• Approved a preliminary plan for the reuse of Galbraith School, 4333 Galbraith School Road, in South Knoxville
• The historic school was built in 1930 but has sat vacant for about 40 years
• The redevelopment plan converts the old school into 36 residential units and eight townhouse units
The $1.6 million City, state and federal investment enhances Liberty Street between Sutherland Avenue and Division Street as a multi-modal route - allowing bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders and commuters to share the road safely.
The new sidewalk will be built on the east side of Liberty Street, connecting Sutherland Avenue and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology campus, 1100 Liberty St.
Meanwhile, new bike lanes on Liberty Street between Knott Road and Division Street will connect the existing neighborhood bike route to Third Creek Greenway with existing bike lanes on Liberty toward Middlebrook Pike.
Southern Constructors Inc. is the construction contractor, and Cannon & Cannon Inc. will provide construction engineering and inspection services. Council authorized Mayor Indya Kincannon to execute agreements with the project team members.
In other matters, City Council tonight:
Patio use agreements
• Amended the City Code to give all businesses with beer permits throughout the city the option of applying to use part of the public right-of-way for a patio
• Previously had only been allowed downtown
• Examples: Patios are allowed to extend out into public spaces on Gay Street and on Market Square
• The change is effective immediately; businesses wanting to add patios on sidewalks and in public rights-of-way can apply with the City's Plans Review and Inspections office
Funding for homeless services coordination
• Authorized a $177,400 agreement with the University of Tennessee College of Social Work
• This increase in funding provides streamlined coordination of the KnoxHMIS (Homeless Management Information System), shared by more than 20 service providers and the Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability
• The aim: More efficient delivery of services, getting help to individuals most acutely in crisis, and coordinating a path toward permanent housing
Galbraith School
• Approved a preliminary plan for the reuse of Galbraith School, 4333 Galbraith School Road, in South Knoxville
• The historic school was built in 1930 but has sat vacant for about 40 years
• The redevelopment plan converts the old school into 36 residential units and eight townhouse units
View All News
City of Knoxville, TN published this content on September 02, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 03, 2025 at 00:40 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]