Murfreesboro, TN - The ongoing Blackman Road improvement project in Murfreesboro has been delayed due to unusually heavy rainfall this summer, pushing its completion into the start of the 2025–2026 school year. Motorists should expect traffic congestion around the intersection of Manson Pike, Burnt Knob Road, and Blackman Road, particularly as students return to school next week (8/8/2025).

Some upgrades have already been made, including a redesigned intersection and a new traffic signal, which began flashing on Friday, August 1. That signal is scheduled to be fully operational by Tuesday, August 5, just ahead of the first day of school on August 6. As a safety measure, law enforcement officers will be stationed at the intersection on August 6 and again on August 8, the first full day of classes.

These disruptions are part of a larger effort to accommodate increased traffic near the new Poplar Hill Elementary School, opening next week at 5100 Baker Road, with a middle school planned for the same site. Enhancements to the roadway include additional turning lanes and pedestrian-friendly features intended to ease congestion in the area.

Earlier in the summer, on June 18, a portion of Blackman Road was temporarily closed for construction, prompting a detour via Vaughn Road and Veterans Parkway. The city council approved a $4.87 million contract in April 2024 for the design of these intersection improvements following a traffic study that warned of significant delays if upgrades weren't made before the arrival of two new schools in the area.