U.S. Route 11E (US 11E) is a
divided highway
A dual carriageway ( BE) or divided highway ( AE) is a class of highway with carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation (BrE) or median (AmE). Roads with two or more carriageways which are ...
of
US 11
{{Infobox road
, country=USA
, type=US
, route=11
, map={{maplink, frame=yes, plain=yes, frame-align=center, frame-width=290, frame-height=330, type=line, from=U.S. Route 11.map
, map_custom=yes
, map_notes=US 11 in red, US 11E in blue, US 11W in ...
in the U.S. states of
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
and
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
. The
U.S. Highway, which is complemented by
US 11W
U.S. Route 11W (US 11W), locally known as Bloody 11W, is a divided highway of US 11 in the U.S. states of Tennessee and Virginia. The U.S. Highway, which is complemented by US 11E to the south and east, runs from US 11, US 11E, and US 70 in Kn ...
to the north and west, runs from
US 11
{{Infobox road
, country=USA
, type=US
, route=11
, map={{maplink, frame=yes, plain=yes, frame-align=center, frame-width=290, frame-height=330, type=line, from=U.S. Route 11.map
, map_custom=yes
, map_notes=US 11 in red, US 11E in blue, US 11W in ...
, US 11W, and
US 70
U.S. Route 70 or U.S. Highway 70 (US 70) is an east–west United States highway that runs for from eastern North Carolina to east-central Arizona. It is a major east–west highway of the Southeastern, Southern and Southwestern United States. E ...
in
Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville is a city in and the county seat of Knox County in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 United States census, Knoxville's population was 190,740, making it the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division and the state' ...
north and east to
US 11
{{Infobox road
, country=USA
, type=US
, route=11
, map={{maplink, frame=yes, plain=yes, frame-align=center, frame-width=290, frame-height=330, type=line, from=U.S. Route 11.map
, map_custom=yes
, map_notes=US 11 in red, US 11E in blue, US 11W in ...
, US 11W,
US 19
U.S. Route 19 (US 19) is a north–south U.S. Highway in the Eastern United States. Despite encroaching Interstate Highways, the route has remained a long-haul road, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with Lake Erie.
The highway's souther ...
, and
US 421
U.S. Route 421 (also U.S. Highway 421, US 421) is a diagonal northwest–southeast United States Numbered Highway in the states of North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana. The highway runs for from Fort Fisher, North Caro ...
in
Bristol, Virginia. US 11E connects Knoxville and the
twin cities
Twin cities are a special case of two neighboring cities or urban centres that grow into a single conurbation – or narrowly separated urban areas – over time. There are no formal criteria, but twin cities are generally comparable in sta ...
of Bristol, Virginia and
Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol is a city in the State of Tennessee. Located in Sullivan County, its population was 26,702 at the 2010 census. It is the twin city of Bristol, Virginia, which lies directly across the state line between Tennessee and Virginia. T ...
with the
East Tennessee communities of
Morristown,
Greeneville, and
Johnson City. The U.S. Highway
runs concurrently with US 70 and
US 25W east of Knoxville,
US 321
U.S. Route 321 (US 321) is a spur of U.S. Route 21. It runs for from Hardeeville, South Carolina to Lenoir City, Tennessee; with both serving as southern termini. It reaches its northernmost point at Elizabethton, Tennessee. Because ...
from Greeneville and Johnson City, and both
US 19W and
US 19
U.S. Route 19 (US 19) is a north–south U.S. Highway in the Eastern United States. Despite encroaching Interstate Highways, the route has remained a long-haul road, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with Lake Erie.
The highway's souther ...
between Johnson City and Bristol. US 11E also has an
unsigned
Unsigned can refer to:
* An unsigned artist is a musical artist or group not attached or signed to a record label
** Unsigned Music Awards, ceremony noting achievements of unsigned artists
** Unsigned band web, online community
* Similarly, the c ...
concurrency with
Tennessee State Route 34
State Route 34 (SR 34) is a state highway located in East Tennessee. The route traverses several cities through eight counties from the Knoxville area to the North Carolina state line via Greeneville and Bristol. The portion from Carter to Br ...
(SR 34) for almost all of its course in Tennessee.
Route description
Knoxville to Morristown
US 11E begins at an intersection with the northern terminus of mainline US 11 in Tennessee, the southern end of US 11W, and US 70 in Knoxville. US 11 and US 70 head west as Magnolia Avenue toward
Zoo Knoxville
Zoo Knoxville, formerly known as the ''Knoxville Zoo'' or ''Knoxville Zoological Gardens'', is a zoo located just east of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, United States, near exit 392 off Interstate 40. The zoo is home to about 1,200 animals and w ...
and downtown Knoxville; US 11W heads northeast along Rutledge Pike. US 11E heads east together with US 70 as Asheville Highway, a four-lane divided highway that leaves the city of Knoxville at its
diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a controlled-access highway crosses a minor road.
Design
The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge. Approaching the ...
with
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 (I-40) is a major east–west Interstate Highway running through the south-central portion of the United States. At a length of , it is the third-longest Interstate Highway in the country, after I-90 and I-80. From west to ea ...
(I-40). US 11E and US 70 are joined by US 25W at the I-40 interchange; the three highways use the J. Will Taylor Bridge to cross the
Holston River
The Holston River is a river that flows from Kingsport, Tennessee, to Knoxville, Tennessee. Along with its three major forks (North Fork, Middle Fork and South Fork), it comprises a major river system that drains much of northeastern Tennessee, ...
and meet the eastern end of
SR 168 (Governor John Sevier Highway). At
Carter
Carter(s), or Carter's, Tha Carter, or The Carter(s), may refer to:
Geography United States
* Carter, Arkansas, an unincorporated community
* Carter, Mississippi, an unincorporated community
* Carter, Montana, a census-designated place
* Carter ...
(also known as Trentville), US 25W and US 70 continue east as Asheville Highway while US 11E splits northeast as four-lane divided Andrew Johnson Highway. The U.S. Highway crosses the
Knox–
Jefferson Jefferson may refer to:
Names
* Jefferson (surname)
* Jefferson (given name)
People
* Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), third president of the United States
* Jefferson (footballer, born 1970), full name Jefferson Tomaz de Souza, Brazilian foo ...
county line in
Strawberry Plains, where the highway intersects
SR 139 (Old Dandridge Pike).
US 11E passes through the town of
New Market on its way to Jefferson City, which contains
Carson-Newman University. At the west end of the town, the U.S. Highway intersects
SR 92, which follows a part of US 11E's old alignment, Old Andrew Johnson Highway. SR 92 runs concurrently with US 11E to south of downtown Jefferson City, where it heads south toward the
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
of
Dandridge. US 11E crosses over
Norfolk Southern Railway's Knoxville East District, and enters
Hamblen County at
Talbott, where the highway intersects
SR 341 (Talbott Kansas Road). The U.S. Highway continues through
Alpha (which has been annexed by the City of Morristown), the site of several industrial parks,
Morristown Regional Airport, and the highway's southern intersection with
SR 342 and the northern terminus of
SR 160 (Air Park Boulevard). The two highways run concurrently until SR 342 heads north as Panther Creek Road toward
Panther Creek State Park just west of the city limits of Morristown.
Morristown to Johnson City
US 11E heads through a commercial area along Andrew Johnson Highway to west of downtown Morristown, where the highway turns southeast onto Morris Boulevard, a five-lane road with center turn lane that crosses the railroad tracks and passes through an industrial area where the highway intersects
SR 66 (Fairmont Avenue). US 11E intersects
SR 343 (Cumberland Street) and passes
College Square Mall before reaching a
partial cloverleaf interchange with
US 25E (Davy Crockett Parkway). US 11E heads north along the freeway for before another partial cloverleaf interchange where the highway becomes concurrent with SR 66 along Andrew Johnson Highway. The two highways closely parallel the railroad line as a two-lane road and leave the city limits of Morristown just west of
Russellville, where
SR 344 splits northeast along Old Russellville Pike. US 11E and SR 66 pass through
Whitesburg shortly before curving southeast and entering
Hawkins County. The U.S. and state highways diverge in the town of
Bulls Gap shortly before US 11E crosses a perpendicular rail line and follows the Knoxville East District through Bulls Gap, a low point in
Bays Mountain
Bays Mountain is a ridge of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, located in eastern Tennessee. It runs southwest to northeast, from just south of Knoxville to Kingsport.
Its southern segment is relatively low in elevation (up to about ). In som ...
.
US 11E continues southeast into
Greene County and
Mosheim city limits, where the highway expands to a four-lane divided highway after it passes
Volunteer Speedway
Volunteer Speedway is a 4/10 mile long dirt race track located in Greene County in the eastern part of Tennessee, in Mosheim (14095 West Andrew Johnson Highway, Bulls Gap, TN postal address). It is known as "The World's Fastest Dirt Track". It ...
and has a diamond interchange with
I-81
Interstate 81 (I-81) is a north–south (physically northeast–southwest) Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at I-40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Isla ...
. The U.S. Highway crosses Lick Creek and passes through the town of Mosheim before reaching the town of
Greeneville the home of
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Greeneville, Tennessee, maintained by the National Park Service. It was established to honor Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States, who became president af ...
. On westside of the town, US 11E has a partial cloverleaf interchange with Blue Springs Parkway, which heads east as
US 11E Business and
SR 70 (Summer Street). SR 70 joins the U.S. Highway for a short distance before heading north as Lonesome Pine Trail. US 11E has an interchange with
SR 172 (Baileyton Road) before closely spaced intersections with
US 321
U.S. Route 321 (US 321) is a spur of U.S. Route 21. It runs for from Hardeeville, South Carolina to Lenoir City, Tennessee; with both serving as southern termini. It reaches its northernmost point at Elizabethton, Tennessee. Because ...
(North Main Street), which joins US 11E in a concurrency, and the southern terminus of
SR 93 (Kingsport Highway). After crossing the Knoxville East rail line, the U.S. Highway receives the eastern end of its business route and
SR 107 (Tusculum Boulevard). SR 107 runs concurrently with the U.S. Highways east to the city of
Tusculum
Tusculum is a ruined Roman city in the Alban Hills, in the Latium region of Italy. Tusculum was most famous in Roman times for the many great and luxurious patrician country villas sited close to the city, yet a comfortable distance from Rome ( ...
, where the state highway heads southeast as Tusculum Bypass then as Erwin Highway and passes
Tusculum College
Tusculum University is a private Presbyterian university with its main campus in Tusculum, Tennessee. It is Tennessee's first university and the 28th-oldest operating college in the United States.
In addition to its main campus, the institution ...
.
US 11E and US 321 head northeast and cross over the rail line at
Afton. The two highways intersect
SR 351 (Rheatown Road) north of the community of
Chuckey. The U.S. Highways also pass to the north of
Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park before entering
Washington County, where the highways pass along the north edge of
Limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
, meet the south end of
SR 75 (Opie Arnold Road), and cross Big Limestone Creek. US 11E and US 321 intersect
SR 81 (College Street) and
SR 354 (Boones Creek Road) on the west and east sides, respectively, of the town of
Jonesborough. The U.S. Highways enter the city of Johnson City at their crossing of a north–south rail line. Just east of the downtown, where US 11E becomes Market Street, US 321 turns south onto State of Franklin Road, a western boulevard bypass of Johnson City that heads north as
SR 381. US 11E passes to the north of
Mountain Home, the site of several hospitals, including a
VA medical center
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the component of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) led by the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health that implements the healthcare program of the VA through a nationa ...
. East of University Parkway, which serves the campus of
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is a public research university in Johnson City, Tennessee. Although it is part of the State University and Community College System of Tennessee, the university is governed by an institutional Board of Tr ...
, the U.S. Highway curves north while
SR 91 continues east along the
one-way pair
A one-way pair, one-way couple, or couplet refers to that portion of a bi-directional traffic facilitysuch as a road, bus, streetcar, or light rail linewhere its opposing flows exist as two independent and roughly parallel facilities.
Descripti ...
of Main Street and Market Street to serve downtown Johnson City.
Johnson City to Bristol
US 11E heads north past
Science Hill High School to Roan Street, the main north–south street of downtown Johnson City that the U.S. Highway joins. The highway passes the
Mall at Johnson City
The Mall at Johnson City is an enclosed shopping mall in Johnson City, Tennessee, United States. The mall features over 90 stores and a food court. It is managed by Washington Prime Group. Opened in 1971, the mall features Dick's Sporting Goods, ...
and meets
I-26 and
US 23
}
U.S. Route 23 or U.S. Highway 23 (US 23) is a major north–south U.S. Highway between Jacksonville, Florida, and Mackinaw City, Michigan. It is an original 1926 route which originally reached only as far south as Portsmouth, Ohio, and has sinc ...
at a partial cloverleaf interchange. US 19W joins US 11E at the interchange; when Roan Street continues north as
SR 36, the two U.S. Highways curve northeast as Bristol Highway, which meets the northern end of SR 381 (State of Franklin Road) at an interchange. The highways head northeast and cross the
Watauga River
The Watauga River () is a large stream of western North Carolina and East Tennessee. It is long with its headwaters in Linville Gap to the South Fork Holston River at Boone Lake.
Course
The Watauga River rises from a spring near the base ...
arm of
Boone Lake
Boone Lake is a reservoir in Sullivan and Washington counties in northeastern Tennessee, formed by the impoundment of the South Fork Holston River and Watauga River behind Boone Dam. and enter
Sullivan County. In the town of
Bluff City, US 11E and US 19W curve north while
SR 44 (Bluff City Highway) continues north into downtown Bluff City. Just north of SR 44, the U.S. highways meet the northern end of
US 19E; US 11E continues north concurrent with mainline US 19 and crosses the South Fork Holston River.
US 11E and US 19 have a diamond interchange with
SR 394 just west of the state highway's junction with
SR 390 (Bluff City Highway). The U.S. Highways cross Beaver Creek adjacent to
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Bristol is among the m ...
and follow the stream's valley between the Whitetop Knobs to the east and the Beaver Creek Knobs to the west. US 11E and US 19 enter the city of Bristol and follow Volunteer Parkway to the Tennessee–Virginia state line. State Street, which heads west as
SR 1, follows the boundary and serves as the main street of both cities Bristol. The two U.S. Highways and
Virginia State Route 381
State Route 381 (SR 381) is a primary state highway in the US state of Virginia. Known as Commonwealth Avenue, the state highway runs from the Tennessee state line north to the Interstate 381 (I-381) within the independent city of Br ...
(SR 381) head north into the
independent city
An independent city or independent town is a city or town that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity (such as a province).
Historical precursors
In the Holy Roman Empire, and to a degree in its successor states ...
of Bristol along Commonwealth Avenue, a four-lane divided highway that intersects Goode Street one block north of the state line; Goode Street carries US 421 and both US 11 Truck and US 19 Truck through the
Bristol Commercial Historic District. US 11E, US 19, US 421, and SR 381 meet the southern end of
SR 113 at separate intersections: Cumberland Street carries northbound SR 113 east and Sycamore Street carries the westbound direction. The four highways continue north to east–west Euclid Avenue, where US 11E has its northern terminus. SR 381 continues north along Commonwealth Avenue to the southern end of
I-381, a spur south from I-81. Westbound Euclid Avenue heads west carrying northbound US 421 and southbound US 11W. At this intersection, US 11E and US 11W come together to form mainline US 11, which follows eastbound Euclid Avenue with northbound US 19.
Major intersections
Greeneville business route
U.S. Route 11E Business (US 11E Business) is a
business route of US 11E in Greeneville, Tennessee. The highway runs between junctions with US 11E on the west and east sides of Greeneville. US 11E Business begins at a partial cloverleaf interchange with US 11E (Andrew Johnson Highway) and SR 70. East of where SR 70 splits to the south, the business route enters the town as Summer Street. In the downtown area, US 11E Business turns north onto Main Street, joining US 321 and SR 107. The business route and SR 107 turn east onto Tusculum Boulevard, which they follow out of the downtown area and pass through a heavily congested area (they also pass
Walters State Community College
Walters State Community College (abbreviated as WSCC, and commonly known as Walters State) is a public community college based in Morristown, Tennessee. It was founded in 1970 and is operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. The college was ...
's Greeneville campus and
Greeneville High School
Greeneville High School (GHS) is a high school in Greeneville, Tennessee
Greeneville is a town in and the county seat of Greene County, Tennessee, United States. The population as of the 2020 census was 15,479. The town was named in honor of ...
) to the business route's eastern terminus at US 11E.
References
External links
Virginia Highways Project: US 11EUS 11E in VA at AARoads
{{DEFAULTSORT:U.S. Route 11e
11 E
11 E
11 E
U.S. Route 011E
Transportation in Sullivan County, Tennessee
Transportation in Washington County, Tennessee
Transportation in Greene County, Tennessee
Transportation in Hawkins County, Tennessee
Transportation in Hamblen County, Tennessee
Transportation in Jefferson County, Tennessee
Transportation in Knox County, Tennessee
E
Transportation in Knoxville, Tennessee