Halls Crossroads in Knox County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Norris Freeway

Photographed by Tom Bosse, June 19, 2020

1. Norris Freeway Marker

Inscription. Built in 1934 by TVA as an important part of TVA's first hydroelectric dam project, Norris Freeway provided a connection from the railroad in Coal Creek in Anderson County to Halls Crossroads in North Knox County. Built to transfer materials to the dam and provide access to administrative offices in Knoxville, and "considered the world's first limited access road...built for utilitarian or construction project-purposes," it runs 21 miles and cost 41.4 million to build. TVA limited billboards and commercial uses along the freeway to provide a scenic drive to Norris Dam and Norris.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1E 128.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1934.

Location. 36° 5.01′ N, 83° 56.105′ W. Marker is in Halls Crossroads, Tennessee, in Knox County. It is at the intersection of Norris Freeway (U.S. 441) and East Emory Road (State Highway 131), on the right when traveling north on Norris Freeway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7418 Norris Fwy, Knoxville TN 37938, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee

and in Greater Knoxville.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured

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as the crow flies: Mt. Fuji (approx. 2 miles away); Savage Garden (approx. 2.9 miles away); Fountain City Schools (approx. 3 miles away); Fountain City United Methodist Church (approx. 3.3 miles away); Mr. Anderson's Log College (approx. 3½ miles away); Site of Fort Adair (approx. 4 miles away); Fort Adair (approx. 4 miles away); Mary Frances Housley (approx. 4.1 miles away).

Additional keywords. The New Deal

Photographed by Tom Bosse, June 19, 2020

2. Norris Freeway Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2020, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 790 times since then and 26 times this year. Last updated on January 14, 2024, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 21, 2020, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.