An extension of Bell Avenue to Roche Street in Knoxville is expected to be completed this year.

This will be a connection as part of the new Villas on Bell housing project by Kading Properties. Bell Avenue will connect through the Villas on Bell development with Roche Street, which is currently gravel. This will now be the first time that the south end of Knoxville will be connected to the downtown area through a road that is not Highway 14. Knoxville Planning and Zoning Administrator Nathan Parch says this extension will have many benefits and it was a requirement as part of the new Kading development because of the emergency response aspect.

“The main benefit is it will provide a second form egress out of that area or a second exitway. Right now the only way to get to Walmart or the Villas on Bell or the Terrace View project is from Highway 14 and extending this road was a requirement of the Villas on Bell project moving forward from a life safety stand point, primarily life safety so it will be great to have that extension.”

The new Kading development is directly north of the current Terrace View development.