A collaborative project between the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Chattanooga Department of Public Works will soon bring enhanced safety, accessibility, and multimodal infrastructure to Cherokee Boulevard, stretching from Market Street to the Stringers Ridge Tunnel.
The project includes both resurfacing and restriping efforts and is designed to reduce turning conflicts, calm traffic, increase pedestrian safety, and support all modes of transportation along this key corridor.
Key improvements include:
Addition of a center turn lane to reduce turning vehicle conflicts
Speed limit change from 40 mph to 35 mph from the tunnel to Black Street
Increased on-street parking along the westbound side
A buffered westbound bike lane to enhance cyclist safety
Improved mid-block pedestrian crossing at Minor Street
Between Black Street and Spears Avenue, two eastbound travel lanes will remain
After Spears Avenue, a new dedicated eastbound turn lane to Manufacturers Road southbound will be introduced
The segment from Manufacturers Road to Market Street will transition to one lane in each direction with a center turn lane
Sharrows (shared lane markings) will guide eastbound cyclists between Black Street and Spears Avenue
The project also aligns with efforts by the city of Red Bank, which is “right-sizing” Dayton Boulevard from the Stringers Ridge Tunnel to Signal Mountain Boulevard, continuing the vision of more balanced, multimodal corridors throughout the region.
TDOT expects the work to be completed by November.