Boring Road’s future takes center stage Thursday
According to a report from Town engineer Darryl Smith, the Board will discuss current and future issues with the Kingston Pike access at Boring Road “due to the new K-5 elementary school at Village Commons Boulevard.”
The Board temporarily closed Boring Road connection to Kingston Pike in June. Since then, a number of residents opposed the closing, citing emergency vehicles’ access and inconvenience, among other considerations.
Options, which may be under discussion, will be to close Boring Road, make Boring Road at Kingston Pike a right-in, right-out intersection, reconstruct Boring Road from about 300 feet east of the rear of the school entrance to Kingston Pike or do nothing for now.
Smith stated Knox County School System is completing the construction of the new school with an intended opening of August 2027.
“Access to the school for parents and students riding in cars is to be from Village Commons Boulevard, with a drop-off queue to remain within the loop on the south side of the school,” he stated. “Staff and buses will be routed to the rear of the school via Smith/Boring Road.
“Boring Road is being improved by KCS to two 12-foot lanes with curb and gutter from its currently improved terminus to the school entrance,” Smith added.
“According to the KCS traffic impact study, the intent is that the parents will not be allowed to access the rear parking lot of the school from Boring Road, though [Town] staff is unsure whether KCS will be able to enforce compliance,” he reported. “The staff assessment is that many parents will access Boring Road from Kingston Pike to drop students at the rear of the school, as well as return to Kingston Pike at Boring Road after drop-off.”
Smith pointed out that portion of Boring Road is about 14 feet wide, which forces vehicles to pull off the road to pass by each other.
Another consideration is the difficulty motorists face when they make a left turn onto Kingston Pike during peak hours.
