MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - A long-planned traffic modernization effort is now moving forward in Murfreesboro, with construction starting on an advanced signal system designed to reduce congestion along Rutherford Boulevard and East Northfield Boulevard.
The project centers on Adaptive Signal Control Technology, an emerging traffic management system that continuously monitors roadway conditions and adjusts signal timing in real time. Unlike traditional fixed schedules, the system responds dynamically to traffic volume, congestion, and changing travel patterns throughout the day, allowing vehicles to move more efficiently through busy corridors.
City Council approved a $5.35 million construction contract on March 27th, 2025, which includes a five percent contingency to address unforeseen construction needs and help keep the project on schedule. The contract was awarded to S&W Contracting Co., LLC after a competitive bidding process. Construction administration services are being provided through a separate, fully federally funded agreement with Neel-Schaffer, Inc., a step commonly taken on large infrastructure projects.
When complete, the system will upgrade 14 signalized intersections along approximately seven miles of roadway, stretching from Southeast Broad Street to New Lascassas Highway on Rutherford Boulevard and from New Lascassas Highway to Highland Avenue on East Northfield Boulevard. Improvements include new signal control cabinets and internal equipment, fiber-optic communication lines throughout the corridor, advanced vehicle detection systems, pedestrian signal upgrades at select intersections, and new signal timing plans for both individual intersections and the corridor as a whole. The project also adds 12 new closed-circuit cameras to improve remote monitoring and traffic management.
Funding for the project is primarily provided through federal transportation dollars administered by Tennessee Department of Transportation, with approximately $4.86 million coming from grant funding and $536,127 supplied locally through the City’s Capital Improvement Program and reallocated fiscal year 2022 funds. The project is supported in part by Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funding, which targets transportation improvements that reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality.
Murfreesboro is among the first cities in Tennessee to deploy adaptive signal technology across a corridor of this size. The project builds on decades of local investment in intelligent transportation systems, which began in the 1980's with interconnected signal networks managed through a central traffic operations center. Once the new intersections are integrated, the city’s interconnected signal system will grow from 112 to 126 intersections, covering roughly three-quarters of all traffic signals citywide. The camera network will also expand from 53 to 63 locations, increasing real-time visibility at key traffic points.
