Knox County is growing and it’s not unusual to see construction anywhere you go. Because of this, it’s natural to assume every bulldozer you see is making room for a new subdivision or a fun ice cream shop.
Such was the question we received from reader Betsy Brucken: "What's going on with a large construction site on Oak Ridge Highway, on the south side of the road, just west of Karns Valley?"
The triangular-shaped site is large at about seven acres. That’s enough for a small complex or storefront.
But the property at 8149 Oak Ridge Highway, across from the Knox County Sportspark is not that exciting. There are no ice cream scoops coming from there anytime soon.
Instead, Drew Thurman, Knox County’s floodplain manager, said the site is what he calls
a “borrow pit,” or property that construction companies use to park equipment and construction material they need and plan to use for nearby jobs. And while Thurman said this particular site is larger than most "borrow pits," there have been no zoning changes or permit applications to do anything else with the property, according to county records.
“They’re pretty common,” he said. “The county has them all over the place for the highway department, (too).
“They can be used for delivery spots or gravel. … They’ll temporarily stage dirt and rock and they leave it and then come get it and leave it and come get it.”
Tyler Whetstone is an investigative reporter focused on accountability journalism. Email: tyler.whetstone@knoxnews.com; X: @tyler_whetstone; Signal: twhetstone141924.39
Curiosity often starts with two words, one question: 'What's that?'
If you see new construction or anything funky around town, send an email to knowyourknox@knoxnews.com. We'll work to get an answer for you and all our Knox News readers!
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: What's that on Oak Ridge Highway across from Knox County Sportspark?
