Work continues on the Competine Trail in Knoxville, as Knoxville Parks and Recreation works to extend the trail to the east of the Recreation Center. Plans call for an extension across Highway 14, ending at 5th Street. Knoxville Parks and Recreation Director Brandon Nemmers says the extension will double the trail’s current length, and is nearing completion.

“We’re picking up where it ends at the hospital here, there will be a safe crossing at 14. Right now, the beacon is not put up. I believe that will happen the same time they put the stoplights in. You’ll be able to stop traffic on 14, get safely across 14, and then we’ll follow Competine Creek here all the way to Roche, and then from Roche to 5th Street. It’ll add a mile to the trail that we currently have, so you’ll have about two miles of paved trail. We’re still on track right now, things are going as planned. There’s always hiccups, but so far we’ve been fortunate.”

The trail currently begins near Graceland Cemetery, runs past Knoxville High School and ends near Knoxville Hospital and Clinics. The extension is expected to be completed by October.