On the WGNS Action Line, host Scott Walker sits down with Murfreesboro City Manager Darren Gore to discuss how the city is positioning itself for continued growth heading into 2026 as population and development accelerate. A major focus of the conversation is the Cherry Lane extension, a long-anticipated transportation project that now has the green light to begin construction this year.

Gore shares new details about the project, including plans to name a key 3.5-mile stretch of the future five-lane roadway “Stonesbattle Parkway.” That section will pass through an area connected to the historic Battle of Stones River, fought during the 1860s. While much of the project planning is already in place, Gore also addresses an unresolved issue: a potential interstate interchange connecting Cherry Lane, or Stonesbattle Parkway, to Interstate 24.

Although TDOT initially declined the city’s request for an I-24 interchange, Gore explains why such a connection could benefit Murfreesboro by supporting commercial development and job growth. In response, City Council has hired a consulting firm to explore alternative options moving forward. Listeners can learn more about Murfreesboro’s future transportation plans and growth strategy by tuning in to the full podcast.

Gore, a licensed professional engineer, has worked for the City of Murfreesboro since 2005 and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.