Cumberland Connect
Cumberland Avenue Merchants Association and Project Archive
Each week, we provide a "two-week look ahead" as the transformation of Cumberland Avenue moves forward.
Latest update: 08.04.2016
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 August 4, 2016 View of CumberlandThis view is looking west a the corner of 21st at Mellow Mushroom. New asphalt has been placed in this section. |  July 26, 2016 View Looking EastPerspective view of Cumberland Avenue looking East. |  July 14, 2016: Full Depth ExcavationView One: Full depth excavation (shown in front of Cookout and Mellow Mushroom) of the roadway on the north side of Cumberland Avenue is for preparation of the new pavement application. |
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 July 14, 2016: Full Depth ExcavationView Two: Full depth excavation (shown in front of Cookout and Mellow Mushroom) of the roadway on the north side of Cumberland Avenue is for preparation of the new pavement application. |  July 7, 2016: New Pervious PaversThis image shows the new pervious pavers in front of a new tree well in front of Cookout. |  July 7, 2016: New Pervious PaversThis set of pervious pavers are in front of Mellow Mushroom and looking good! |
 View: June 23, 2016This is a view just in front of Cookout looking east toward Mellow Mushroom. |  View June 9, 2016This is a view from the 18th Street intersection looking west toward Alcoa Highway. |  Concrete Being PouredCrews are placing new concrete in the sidewalk area just in front of University Liquors |
 Concrete at University LiquorsCrews are smoothing the new concrete. |  Lighting ConduitsCrews are placing conduits at the 21st Street intersection for the new street lighting. |  New Sidewalk SectionThis photo shows a new sidewalk section near Cookout. The concrete area in the middle (near the truck tire) will hold a new bench and bike rack. |
 New Sidewalk With Landscape AreasThis photo shows three areas: (1) tree well, (2) lighting and (3) seating area. |  Tree Well Area |  Landscaping and Sidewalk Lighting |
 New SidewalkPreparation for new tinted concrete to be poured next to previously poured section. |  Tree WellsTony Roe, Construction Engineering and Inspection Manager with Vaughn & Melton Consulting Engineers stands next to a tree well that is ready for the next phase. |  New Curb Forms |
 Sidewalk forms at Mellow Mushroom |  Sidewalk forms at Mellow Mushroom |  Construction at Mellow MushroomThis photo was taken on Wednesday, April 20 in front of Mellow Mushroom looking West toward Alcoa Highway |
 Construction at StarbucksThis photo was taken on Wednesday, April 20 in front of Starbucks looking East toward downtown Knoxville. |  Construction at Stefano'sThis is a view inside of the construction fencing in front of Stefano's Chicago Style Pizza. |  New Entry at StarbucksThis is a photo showing a new driveway entrance with two types of concrete. |
 IMG_3955 |  New Sanitary SewerThe aqua pipe set seen in this photo is part of the new sanitary sewer system, which is part of the utility upgrade on Cumberland. |  Fill Gravel at House of DragonThroughout this project many loads of gravel are used to replace fill taken out during construction. |
 Prepping for Streetscape ElementsThis photo was taken in front of The Knox Office, House of Dragon and Jimmy John's showing the intense amount of work that must take place. Notice all of the different types of utilities that must be worked around when digging out the trench. |  Tree Well ExcavationThis is the excavation for the new tree wells in front of House of Dragon. |  Underground UtilitiesConstruction must carefully work around existing utilities. |
 Inside the Newly Excavated Area |  Work Progresses Past Regions |  Fill Gravel for Sidewalk |
We have created a CONSTRUCTION AROUND CUMBERLAND AVENUE map, which provides a comprehensive list of construction on and around Cumberland Avenue. Use this resource to help nagivate around the area and stay up-to-date with current information. The map is updated as soon as traffic control permits are approved by the City of Knoxville.
The images below describe the seven-step process of constructing the new sidewalk area, which is a major component of the Cumberland Avenue Streetscape project. Maintaining safe customer access to the over 50 merchants along this corridor is a top priority, in addition to the safety of the construction workers and other visitors to the area. This visual aid is intended to help provide information as to the intense nature of the work being performed along the area and to give a better understanding to the time it will take to complete this portion of the project. If you have questions or concerns, please call 865.546.5800 or email us at info@cumberlandconnect.com
PLEASE BE AWARE AND SHARE...
If you are visiting merchants on the North side of the street (i.e. Starbucks, Mellow Mushroom, University Liquors, Copper Cellar, Walgreens, FedEx Office, etc.) you will need to come in from 17th Street or Westbound Cumberland from downtown. For merchants on the South side (i.e. Sunspot, Panera Bread, Jason's Deli, Oscar's Italian, Moe's, McDonalds, Krystal, Hilton Garden Inn, etc.)access is from Volunteer Blvd., University Commons, Alcoa Highway or East Bound on Kingston Pike.
STEP ONE: EXCAVATION FOR DUCT BANKS
This first step involves the removal of the old sidewalk and excavation for the installation of duct banks. Duct banks are groups of conduits designed to protect and consolidate cabling to and from buildings. In a duct bank, data and electrical cables are laid out within PVC conduits that are bundled together; concrete and metal casings protect these groupings of conduit. The duct banks will hold wiring for new street lighting and special event electrical boxes installed by KUB. Once the duct banks are placed, concrete is poured in the excavated area, holding the duct bank in place and providing protection from work to be performed in the next steps of the process. After the concrete has set, fill material is added on top so that step two can begin.
COMPLETION TIME FOR STEP ONE: APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK
STEP TWO: EXCAVATION FOR TREE WELL AND SILVA CELL
The next step involves excavation of the tree well and Silva Cell pit. The Silva Cell is a modular building block for containing specified amounts of healthy soil beneath paving while supporting traffic loads and accommodating surrounding utilities. The Silva Cell is filled with high-quality, uncompacted soil to grow trees and manage the rate, quality and volume of stormwater.
COMPLETION TIME FOR STEPS TWO THROUGH SIX: APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS
STEP THREE: SAND BEDS CREATED
A sand bed is created within the tree well and Silva Cell pit to help provide drainage and support to the Silva Cell, soil and plantings
STEP FOUR: SILVA CELL INSTALLATION
After sand bed is completed, the Silva Cell is added. The photo on the left shows the bottom component of a Silva Cell in front of Cookout at the corner of 22nd Street. The photo on the right shows another Silva Cell near the eastern corner of the Cookout property.
STEP FIVE: AMENDED SOIL
Amended soil is placed in the Silva Cells, which provides adequate rootable soil volume crucial to growing healthy trees.
COMPLETION TIME STEPS ONE THROUGH SEVEN: APPROXIMATELY 8 WEEKS
NOTE: COMPLETION TIME CAN BE IMPACTED BY WEATHER AND UNFORESEEN CONFLICTS
STEP SIX: ROOT BARRIER FABRIC
Once the amended soil and the Silva Cell top are placed, root barrier fabric is placed around the pit to help guide the growth of the future tree roots. This helps to make sure roots stay underground rather than growing upward.
STEP SEVEN: CURB, GUTTER AND SIDEWALK
After the root barrier fabric is in place, fill material is added for leveling so that the concrete, curb and gutter can be poured. The photo on the left shows the construction of the forms that have to be made before concrete can be poured. The photo on the right was taken on April 20 in front of Cookout and shows the new sidewalk and tree wells.
COMPLETION TIME FOR STEP SEVEN: APPROXIMATELY 4 WEEKS
STREETSCAPE CONSTRUCTION 101:
WHAT IS A SILVA CELL?
The Silva Cell is a modular building block for containing unlimited amounts of healthy soil beneath paving while supporting traffic loads and accommodating surrounding utilities. The Silva Cell is filled with high-quality, uncompacted soil to grow trees and manage the rate, quality and volume of stormwater.
STREETSCAPE CONSTRUCTION 101:
WHERE IS THAT ODOR COMING FROM?
Providing adequate rootable soil volume is crucial to growing healthy trees. The new trees on Cumberland Avenue will be getting the best possible start due to the special mix of dirt and composting material that is being placed in deep trenches now visable on Cumberland, which also include the new silva cells for root development. So don't be too alarmed when you smell an odor that may make you feel you are on a farm...it is just the healthy beginning of growing lush, green trees for our Cumberland Avenue Corridor!
Click the image below to watch Phase I progress on YouTube.
Make sure to download the resources we have available for you - detour maps, construction zones and our project timeline will help you know how to navigate Cumberland Avenue as the transformation unfolds.
Businesses and other destinations in the Cumberland Avenue Corridor remain accessible, and the best way to reach them is to follow the City’s recommended detour routes:
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From the south, take Neyland Drive to Joe Johnson Drive to Volunteer Boulevard.
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Those wishing to reach Cumberland Avenue from the north or coming off Interstate 40/75 can do so via 17th Street.
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To most quickly access Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, take 17th Street to Clinch Avenue.
In addition, Cumberland Avenue Corridor visitors can ride KAT buses for free. Routes 10, 11 and 17 are all free from Gay Street to Cumberland, and bus riders can board along Cumberland Avenue fare-free.
Also, free public parking on weekends and after 6 p.m. weekdays is available in the Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center lot at 19th Street and White Avenue and in the UT Federal Credit Union lot at 22nd Street and White Avenue.
The Cumberland Avenue Merchants are open for business and invite you to come and experience the unique variety of retail offerings along the Cumberland Avenue Corridor!
