Alcoa approves railroad crossing agreement for airport greenway extension

Additional plans for the greenway extension from the Smith & Wesson facility to McGhee Tyson Airport got the go-ahead this week after Alcoa City Commissioners approved agreements for a railroad crossing essential to the project. The 2.5-mile extension will jump over tracks owned by CSX Transportation near Louisville Road.

Commissioners unanimously approved the documents during their meeting Tuesday, Oct. 8. The overhead crossing will allow construction on the project, which is already underway, to move ahead to completion.

Work on the Smith & Wesson Tourism Walking Trail should wrap up in late summer of 2025, and is projected to cost around $4 million.

History

The greenway extension has been in progress for about four months now, according to Blount Partnership Communications Director Jeff Muir. The extension grew out of the Smith & Wesson relocation project, during which representatives of the three major local governments — Blount County, Maryville and Alcoa — coordinated a package of benefits in exchange for the weapons giant migrating to a property just off Louisville Road.

Smith & Wesson occupies one of seven industrial parks overseen by the Industrial Development Board of Blount County, an authority that works closely with the Blount Partnership. Since each park is linked by greenway, IDB staff wanted to make sure they offered the same to the newcomers.

In January, the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority approved using airport property for part of the greenway extension. The trail path is drawn to avoid future land use, but the airport can revoke its part of the agreement when it needs the land back.

Airport officials said they needed the flexibility in case of future growth.

Designs

Documents describe the crossing itself as a “170-foot aerial crossing for a 10-foot wide pedestrian path.” Preliminary drawings presented to airport officials show the greenway crossing the rail lines near Louisville Loop Road before heading south along Louisville Road and turning east toward the airport around Liberty Street.

On Tuesday, Alcoa officials signed off on two documents: the crossing agreement with CSX and a payment agreement with the IDB.

Alcoa City Manager Bruce Applegate said CSX requires one entity to sign the agreement, which is why Alcoa got the job. The payment agreement will allow the city to invoice the IDB for expenses like maintenance and construction.

“The agreement that’s set forth here brings in the fact that we’re working with our partners of Maryville and Blount County through the IDB, not only through the construction phase of this project but also to make sure the bridge is maintained over time,” Applegate told commissioners.

Alcoa and Maryville are each paying for 30% of the greenway project, while the county is covering 40%.

Under the agreement with CSX, the city is required to completely remove the crossing within 30 days of the contract’s end.