Good news for commuters using North Cherry Street to connect between East Knoxville and North Knoxville destinations: A $2 million stormwater investment will ease flash flooding that now frequently closes the street.

The culprit: A rusted-out below-ground corrugated metal stormwater pipe. Instead of conveying water to where it’s supposed to go to properly drain, the porous pipe has allowed water to pool in this low spot, rendering the road impassable after even an average-sized rain.

City Council tonight authorized Mayor Indya Kincannon’s administration to proceed with replacing the old failing pipe with a strong new 72-by-36-inch reinforced concrete box. The box will run 1,100 linear feet along North Cherry Street, between Cecil Avenue and the Norfolk Southern railroad crossing.

When the project is completed in about a year, water from moderate to heavy rains that now flood the road will be harmlessly carried away.

Federal grant funding is covering 80 percent of the cost. The City is matching the grant with about $400,000 in local funds. Adams Contracting was the lowest and most responsive bidder for the competitively-bid contract. 

The Cherry Street stormwater infrastructure upgrade is one in a series of projects currently underway aimed at reducing flooding and improving water quality.

Last month, Council authorized Mayor Kincannon’s administration to move ahead with the $358,000 Loves Creek Hydrology Study, Phase II, with a focus on addressing flooding of Lake Ottosee at Chilhowee Park.

And within about a month, Council will be asked whether to authorize Kincannon to proceed with investments to remediate frequent flooding on Baum and Erin drives in West Knoxville. Also coming before Council: contracts to correct erosion problems and improve water quality at Mary Vestal Park and Rock City Ballfield.


Homelessness services

Tonight, City Council also authorized Mayor Kincannon to execute agreements worth more than $400,000 for funding and services aimed at emergency assistance for people experiencing homelessness:

• Kincannon will apply for $134,375 in Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency to be used to provide homelessness services. The City has budgeted the same amount in local funds as a grant match.

• The City is providing $50,000 to Volunteer Ministry Center to support its rapid re-housing services, including post-housing case management, and $110,673 for dental services to 175 individuals experiencing homelessness.

• The City is supporting the Salvation Army’s Joy Baker Center and Bridge of Hope Emergency Shelter with $85,352. The funding will focus on families with children or pregnant women fleeing domestic violence, as well as men experiencing homelessness.

• The City is providing $28,000 to Catholic Services of East Tennessee, serving homeless senior citizens through Samaritan Place.