Just over 5 years ago, a group of thoughtful folks got together to discuss an idea that sounded crazy to some...don't improve I-40 through downtown, remove I-40 through downtown. Some folks scoffed at the idea while TDOT said it wouldn't work and that 640 could never handle 40's traffic.

Our idea was to simply to seek additional public input on a possibly more appropriate location for 40 rather than through downtown but increased public input was not a TDOT desire nor one of the Ashe administration.

Personally, I think that eliminating 40 through downtown would have made Knoxville's downtown more livable and visionary. Knox B.L.V.D. (Knoxville, building a livable & visionary downtown). Now that construction has begun, let’s examine what the potential would have been if 640 had been re-named “40” and the connection of 275 to 40 at 640’s western side could have been:

1. Knoxvillians entering downtown from the east would use a non-disconnected Magnolia Ave. which rather than being isolated from the city’s center would have begun to flourish.
2. Those entering downtown from the north and south would have used the same routes that they have now.
3. Those entering downtown from the west, would have followed the “abandoned” 40 spur from 640 which would have dropped down to a tree-lined boulevard making downtown much easier to navigate. (Turn right onto 17th for campus, turn right onto Henley for the Convention Center,t turn right onto Gay for Market Square, turn right onto Central to access the Old City, etc. etc.)
4. The footprint of the abandoned section of 40 from Fourth & Gill through Park Ridge would lead along an urban park to the Knoxville Zoo.
5. Huge amounts of land would be once again placed upon the tax rolls.
6. Through travelers seeking gas, quick dining or motels could purchase these from nearly any exit along the new “40” (Old 640) thereby creating increased tax revenues from the folks that now wait ‘til their through downtown to have their needs met.
7. Huge portions of urban neighborhoods would be reclaimed for appropriate expansion of housing stock thereby thwarting costly suburban sprawl.
8. The denser population might be able to support enhanced mass-transit options helping to relieve some of our air quality issues.
9. Struggling East Towne Mall (like Todd Steed, I can’t say Knoxville Center) would become an outlet mall and destination attraction…also increasing tax revenues.
10. There would be no need for the still un-needed James White Parkway which would be torn out to expose the underlying creek and create a greenway/river walk concept ala’ Greenville, SC.
11. The CBID would be accessible by foot from the contiguous neighborhoods.

Instead, we have the pleasure of a bigger version of something that shouldn't have been where it is in the first place. Since we didn't learn from our past mistakes, let's hope that our children do.