Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland continues to research questions that were called-in to him on the WGNS' Action Line radio broadcast. A listener quizzed him if Memorial Boulevard (Lebanon Pike) is going to be widened, starting at the VA?
Mayor Reports
The widening of US 231 from where the current five lane roadway ends at the entrance to the VA is a project that is both on the City's Major Thoroughfare Plan and that of the state of Tennessee that would extend the five lane cross section from the VA to SR 266 (Jefferson Pike). The recognition of the need and intent can be noted by the fact that when TDOT replaced the bridge over Stones River on US 231, they replaced it as a five lane bridge to accommodate a future widening. There are currently no immediate plans or are there currently funds designated to undertake this project at this time.
We are meeting with TDOT on Monday, March 7th, and hopefully we can start working on funding for some of these other areas. Since this is a state road, it really is something that we have to work with the State to secure the funding. Hopefully, if the funding of Jefferson Pike is approved, this would help with the widening of 231. The current funding of the TDOT budget is lagging and that complicates some of the road projects.
Mayor McFarland continues to seek answers to your questions. He will be on NewsRadio WGNS again from 8:10-9:00AM on Wednesday morning, March 11th.
Listener Offers Solution
A listener e-mailed Mayor McFarland after the radio broadcast and noted she was willing to help and she had some ideas on ways to remedy the situation. The listener commented . . .
Dear Mayor McFarland,
I was listening to the talk radio WGNS one morning a week or so ago when you were on the program. The question put out to the listeners had something to do with areas around Murfreesboro that are in need of improvement.
There was one lady who called in and explained the need for improvement on 231 near the VA.
The way she explained it was that she lives out 231 North, past Jefferson Pike. Every morning, she drives her children to school and then travels 231 South. She stated she has seen numerous accidents occur when drivers make a left turn into the golf course/VA off 231, but it's not where there is a designated turn lane.
I also drive my kids to school (Siegel) and see the same thing all the time. The problem is that most of those drivers making the left turn are not going to the golf course, but over to the VA.
If those drivers would travel another 300 or so feet and use the left turn lane, so many accidents in that area could be eliminated.
Another solution could be to widen the road to allow for a left turn at the golf course entrance. With all the new housing being built out that direction, the traffic problem will only get greater. So many of the drivers come that way are Siegel students and I would hate that one day one of them is seriously hurt.
It's not a matter of traveling at high speeds, it just gets so backed up. There are times it's backed up to the soccer fields because those making that left turn disrupt the flow of traffic.
I know I share this concern with MANY of my neighbors. If there is a way I can be involved to help make this happen, please let me know.
Thank You,
WGNS has withheld the person's name
