05/19/2026
Morristown Police - Graduation Traffic Pattern
The last days of school are here for Hamblen County students. Seniors and their families are preparing for graduation. The Hamblen County School System utilizes the Walters State Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center for both graduations; being held Friday, May 22, 2026.
A multi-agency K-9 Unit will conduct a safety sweep before each graduation ceremony. Once the safety sweep is completed, the doors will open for attendees. All attendees, including staff and students will enter through metal detectors and wands. This year graduation will look a little different. Flowers, air horns, or gifts will not be permitted into the building for ceremonies. Anyone who is found to have any prohibited items will be sent to return items to their vehicles and will have to reenter at the back of the line.
Morristown-Hamblen West High will graduate first; doors open at 2:00pm for the 4:00pm ceremony. After Morristown-Hamblen West High graduation all exiting traffic will be directed to exit onto Witt Road. After Morristown-Hamblen West graduation, no one will be allowed to congregate outside the building nor in the parking lot. The venue must be cleared immediately.
Morristown-Hamblen East High’s graduation ceremony will begin at 8:30pm; doors will open at 7:00pm for attendees. Those attending Morristown-Hamblen East High graduation, the traffic pattern to get into graduation will be as follows, Morristown Hamblen-East’s graduation will enter from southbound 25E/Agricultural Park Boulevard only. There will be message boards directing drivers; traffic for the graduation will need to stay in the right lane. Witt Road will be closed for incoming traffic to the Expo Center. Anyone, other than those authorized, attempting to arrive earlier than 7:00pm, for East High graduation, will be diverted southbound on 25E towards White Pine. Diverted traffic will not be allowed to stop, stand, or congest traffic on 25E prior to entry.
The Morristown Police Department, Hamblen County Sheriff’s Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, White Pine City Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Jefferson County Rescue Squad and Hamblen and Jefferson County Emergency Management Agencies will be conducting traffic control for the ceremonies.
Following the Morristown-Hamblen East graduation, all exiting traffic may exit either towards Progress Parkway or Agricultural Park Boulevard.
The Morristown Police Department encourages all citizens to be careful Friday in the area of Walters State Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center, and as always, remove any and all driving distractions to keep families safe during this special time.
