MURFREESBORO, TN - Officials in Murfreesboro are moving forward with the 2050 Major Transportation Plan, most recently focusing attention toward the critical Stonesbattle Parkway corridor. Currently, preparations are underway for a public hearing this Wednesday, May 6, 2026. The upcoming meeting at the Murfreesboro Airport follows an April 8 workshop where the City Council and Planning Commission reviewed the "long-range, data-driven framework" designed to manage local growth through the next quarter-century.
The 2050 Major Transportation Plan (MTP) builds upon existing frameworks from 2003 and 2017 to address updated population and employment projections. One of the central components of future travel in the 'Boro involves the extension of Cherry Lane that will turn into the planned Stonesbattle Parkway, which will serve as a "much-needed transportation link" between Interstate 840 and Interstate 24. Current recommendations for the parkway include developing it as a major arterial consisting of "a combination of six-lane and four-lane divided roadway sections" extending from Blackman Road to Northwest Broad Street.
WGNS previously asked City Manager Darren Gore where residents can expect to see the first phase of construction for Stonesbattle Parkway, and he stated...
However, long-term planning remains somewhat fluid for future interchanges along the proposed parkway at I-24, due to concerns raised by the Tennessee Department of Transportation…
For the time being, elected officials with the City continue to push forward with plans that include interchanges on I-24 and I-840 for Stonesbattle Parkway, which leaders say will improve regional mobility. One strategy calls for advanced infrastructure at key locations, including a “diverging diamond interchange (DDI) at I-24” and a “grade-separated single-loop intersection at NW Broad Street.”
Phase 4 of the project, specifically known as the Stonesbattle Parkway phase, is designed to cross the West Fork of the Stones River and intersect with Old Nashville Highway and Florence Road before connecting to Blackman Road. Officials stated that these improvements are intended to "provide alternative connections to I-840 and I-24 from nearby neighborhoods rather than utilizing the existing burdened roadway system". Scroll down for more details. On map, Cherry Lane / Stonesbattle Pkwy are in RED below.
Wednesday Meeting: The Planning Commission will review the specific Stonesbattle Parkway Corridor Plan as a "small area plan" during the May 6 meeting. This detailed study takes a "nuanced look" at the area to fine-tune land use recommendations. City staff noted that once adopted, the plan's recommendations "will supersede the recommendations of the future land use map contained in the Murfreesboro 2035 Comprehensive Plan".
The plan also evaluates two distinct scenarios for the I-24 connection: one with a full interchange and one with a "flyover" only. While the interchange scenario supports a "stronger commercial, mixed-use, and employment-generating hub," the no-interchange option would emphasize residential land uses. Regardless of which direction the roadway is built, with or without I-24 interchanges, City staff noted that "because of the amount of traffic that this roadway will carry, it is anticipated that it will bring with it an increased demand for new development". Overall, the Stonesbattle Corridor Plan is "intended to help Murfreesboro stay ahead of growth rather than react to it".
Phase 1 – Existing Conditions
- Phase 1 represents the existing Cherry Lane Corridor and establishes the foundational framework of the corridor as a major arterial, acknowledging its current role in supporting mobility, access, and ongoing improvements within the roadway network.
Phase 2 – Corridor Extension (Rural Major Arterial Framework)
- Phase 2 extends from the existing roadway system and initiates new corridor construction. This phase establishes continuity with Cherry Lane while setting the alignment, access strategy, and functional characteristics consistent with a rural major arterial, providing the framework for future expansion toward I-840.
Phase 3 – Interchange Access
- Phase 3 is divided into three subsections to reflect varying funding, implementation, and connectivity considerations:
- Phase 3A continues the corridor extension from Phase 2 as a rural major arterial, advancing the roadway toward the I-840 interchange area.
- Phase 3B encompasses the segment associated with the proposed I-840 interchange, establishing a critical regional connection that enhances corridor accessibility, changes overall transportation functionality, and sets the stage for the corridor to function as a continuous east–west connector.
- Phase 3C represents the initial segment of Stonesbattle Parkway, located primarily within floodplain areas, and provides a connection between the Cherry Lane interchange at I-840 and NW Broad Street. This segment advances the corridor toward its ultimate role as a continuous east–west connection extending across I-24.
Phase 4 – Ultimate Buildout (Urban Major Arterial / East–West Connector)
- Phase 4 completes the corridor as Stonesbattle Parkway and fulfills the primary objective to function as a continuous east–west connector for the area. This phase reflects the long-term buildout of the roadway system as an urban major arterial, assumes construction of the interchange at Stonesbattle Parkway and I-24, and is expected to serve as a catalyst for future development within the corridor.
Read more about past meetings and learn details about the upcoming meeting to be held this coming Wednesday, HERE.
