The Tennessee Department of Transportation will close Cusick Road in Blount County between the Regal Drive roundabout and North Gate Lane starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 17, 2026, to install a precast box culvert, according to a TDOT news release.
The closure is scheduled to run through 5 a.m. Monday, July 20, 2026. TDOT is directing drivers to a detour route using North Wright Road, Northpark Boulevard, Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115), Pellissippi Parkway (State Route 162) and Hunt Road (State Route 335) while the culvert work is underway.
The agency did not name a contractor for the project in its release. Culvert installations of this type typically involve replacing or upgrading drainage structures beneath the roadway to improve water flow and prevent erosion or flooding at the crossing.
TDOT frequently schedules weekend closures for culvert and drainage work to minimize disruption to weekday traffic, since crews can work continuously from Friday morning through the Monday commute without needing to reopen the road overnight. The Cusick Road closure spans just under three full days, giving crews roughly 67 hours to complete the culvert installation before the road must reopen for the Monday morning commute.
Drivers who normally use Cusick Road between the Regal Drive roundabout and North Gate Lane should plan for added travel time over the closure weekend, particularly given the multi-road nature of the posted detour, which routes traffic onto state highways rather than local streets. TDOT posts real-time updates on lane and road closures statewide through its SmartWay traveler information system.
Why it matters for Knoxville: Blount County sits within the Knoxville metro area, and the weekend closure will force commuters and weekend travelers along Cusick Road onto a multi-road detour through Alcoa Highway and Pellissippi Parkway until the culvert work wraps up Monday morning.