A convenience to some, an annoyance to others; billboards are a central part of the commercial landscape along the much-traveled Chapman Highway.
It was just a little over two years ago that the soaring McDonald’s sign was erected in the path of a beautiful unobstructed view of the foothills. Local citizens were so outraged they started a petition to remove the sign.
The overwhelming banners lining the roadways can be a grabbing form of advertising. The signs can also be a distraction from the task at hand (navigating a vehicle through the congested four-lane), or from the natural landscape of Sevier County.
“It’s hard not to look at them,” said Hope Bailey of Knoxville, who makes frequent trips on Chapman Highway with her family en route to Pigeon Forge. “I’m sure there have been some accidents on this highway that were caused by people trying to read the signs and not paying attention to the road.”
Since there is little maintenance or upkeep once the sign is erected and regardless of the hazard, local businesses are lining up for an opportunity to erect a billboard along Chapman.
“Obviously there is a lot of development in the Seymour area,” said Mike Fleming, Lamar Advertising’s Knoxville-office General Manager.
“The south side of Knoxville and the north side of Sevierville, along Chapman Highway are in demand right now. Obviously with the building of the Wal-Mart and the Chops Grill, there is a lot of development happening in that area.”
Fleming said the cost of advertising along Chapman could cost a business between $800 and $2000 a month, although you can get a billboard for under $500 from a private owner.
Regulations have been established by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), Maintenance Division, to provide effective control of outdoor advertising adjacent to Federal Aid Primary and Federal-Aid Interstate highway systems within the state of Tennessee are available on the TDOT web site.
The web site terms outdoor advertising as any outdoor sign, display, device, bulletin, figure, painting, drawing, message, placard, poster, billboard or anything which is used to advertise or inform. It applies to any part of the advertising or informative contents of which is located within an adjacent area and is visible from any place on the main traveled way of the state, interstate or primary highway systems.
TDOT gives billboard advertisers a parameter within six hundred feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of an interstate or primary highway.
Different types of highways require different regulations. Outdoors advertising erected or maintained within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way and visible from the main traveled way are subject to a list of restrictions.
The restrictions state that outdoor advertising must be located in areas zoned for commercial or industrial use.
Among the types of advertising signs not restricted by zoning criteria according to the web site are directional and other official signs and notices including, but not limited to, natural wonders, scenic and historical attractions, which are advertised or required by law.
Signs, displays and devices that advertise the sale or lease of property, are not restricted by the zoning criteria. Signs, displays and devices advertising activities conducted on the property on which they are located also do not fall into the zoning criteria.

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A convenience to some, an annoyance to others; billboards are a central part of the commercial landscape along the much-traveled Chapman Highway.
It was just a little over two years ago that the soaring McDonald’s sign was erected in the path of a beautiful unobstructed view of the foothills. Local citizens were so outraged they started a petition to remove the sign.
The overwhelming banners lining the roadways can be a grabbing form of advertising. The signs can also be a distraction from the task at hand (navigating a vehicle through the congested four-lane), or from the natural landscape of Sevier County.
“It’s hard not to look at them,” said Hope Bailey of Knoxville, who makes frequent trips on Chapman Highway with her family en route to Pigeon Forge. “I’m sure there have been some accidents on this highway that were caused by people trying to read the signs and not paying attention to the road.”
Since there is little maintenance or upkeep once the sign is erected and regardless of the hazard, local businesses are lining up for an opportunity to erect a billboard along Chapman.
“Obviously there is a lot of development in the Seymour area,” said Mike Fleming, Lamar Advertising’s Knoxville-office General Manager.
“The south side of Knoxville and the north side of Sevierville, along Chapman Highway are in demand right now. Obviously with the building of the Wal-Mart and the Chops Grill, there is a lot of development happening in that area.”
Fleming said the cost of advertising along Chapman could cost a business between $800 and $2000 a month, although you can get a billboard for under $500 from a private owner.
Regulations have been established by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), Maintenance Division, to provide effective control of outdoor advertising adjacent to Federal Aid Primary and Federal-Aid Interstate highway systems within the state of Tennessee are available on the TDOT web site.
The web site terms outdoor advertising as any outdoor sign, display, device, bulletin, figure, painting, drawing, message, placard, poster, billboard or anything which is used to advertise or inform. It applies to any part of the advertising or informative contents of which is located within an adjacent area and is visible from any place on the main traveled way of the state, interstate or primary highway systems.
TDOT gives billboard advertisers a parameter within six hundred feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of an interstate or primary highway.
Different types of highways require different regulations. Outdoors advertising erected or maintained within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way and visible from the main traveled way are subject to a list of restrictions.
The restrictions state that outdoor advertising must be located in areas zoned for commercial or industrial use.
Among the types of advertising signs not restricted by zoning criteria according to the web site are directional and other official signs and notices including, but not limited to, natural wonders, scenic and historical attractions, which are advertised or required by law.
Signs, displays and devices that advertise the sale or lease of property, are not restricted by the zoning criteria. Signs, displays and devices advertising activities conducted on the property on which they are located also do not fall into the zoning criteria.

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