TDOT Announces Broad St. and Memorial Blvd./Old Fort Parkway Intersection Project
TDOT Announces Broad St. and Memorial Boulevard/Old Fort Parkway Intersection Project
State and City Leaders Collaborate on Project Design and Aesthetics
Nashville, Tenn. – Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Commissioner John Schroer joined Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg and other state leaders today to announce plans to completely reconstruct one of the busiest intersections in the state. TDOT plans to separate the intersections of Broad St. (SR 1) and Memorial Blvd. /Old Fort Parkway (SR 96/SR 10) by creating a single point urban interchange. This separation calls for a new bridge on Memorial Blvd. that will create an overpass over Broad Street.
TDOT Commissioner John Schroer said Wednesday, “Murfreesboro has seen tremendous growth over the last decade and this intersection can no longer meet the current or future traffic demands. We are ready to move forward with a design that is supported by our local partners. While we know the construction will have significant impacts on the area, the finished product will greatly improve traffic flow at this intersection.”
The Average Daily Traffic (ADT) on Old Fort Pkwy/Memorial Blvd. is 27,240. The Average Daily Traffic (ADT) on Broad Street is 31,420. This means that nearly 60,000 vehicles pass through this intersection every day. By 2034, it is projected that 72,740 vehicles will pass through this intersection daily. The high number of through-traffic on both roadways is the primary reason a single point urban interchange design was chosen for the intersection. The interchange will allow continuous movement in both directions.
The project also includes plans for enhanced lighting, landscaping and aesthetic treatment of retaining walls and the bridge to coordinate with the sensitive historic quality of the city. At Wednesday’s event, Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg thanked TDOT for its attention to the city. “I know there will be inconvenience, but from the very beginning, TDOT has listened and taken into consideration the design elements that are important to Murfreesboro. We are most appreciative and supportive for TDOT’s commitment to reconstructing this vital intersection.”
The City of Murfreesboro and utility owners are currently working to secure the necessary property required to relocate water, sewer, gas, and cable and phone lines. Once that is complete, TDOT anticipates being able to put the project out for bids in the fall of 2013. Once a construction contract is in place, TDOT will announce several local and regional detour options, and provide details about the construction schedule and work hours. Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2014 and estimated to take 36 months.
TDOT and the City of Murfreesboro will host public meetings later for residents and business owners in the fall of 2013 once a contractor has been awarded the project. To learn more about the project or sign up for email updates, please visit http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/SR1/.
To see renderings of what the new Broad St/Memorial Blvd. interchange will look like, please visit
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tndot/sets/72157634197817750/. The photos posted there are available for publication by media outlets.
State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and Rep. Dawn White (R- Murfreesboro) both represent the area of Murfreesboro that includes the Broad St. (SR 1) and Memorial Blvd. /Old Fort Parkway (SR 96/SR 10) intersection. Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), Rep. Joe Carr (R-Lascassas), Rep. Mike Sparks (R-Smyrna), and Rep. Rick Womick (R-Rockvale) all represent other parts of Rutherford County.
###