Nashville set to get 'choice' lanes along I-24 – spectrumlocalnews.com

Nashville set to get ‘choice’ lanes along I-24  spectrumlocalnews.com

Tennessee is revving up to begin construction on paid ‘choice lanes’ stretching from Nashville to Murfreesboro. TENNESSEE — Tennessee is revving up to begin construction on paid ‘choice lanes’ stretching from Nashville to Murfreesboro. The Transportation Modernization Board unanimously voted to move forward with its Interstate 24 Southeast Choice Lane project on Aug. 19, which will see two new pay-to-use lanes begin construction as Tennessee continues to face rapid growth and subsequent traffic congestion. City and state officials voiced their eagerness to get started on a solution. “Today is the beginning of a new era for infrastructure in Tennessee,” said Governor Bill Lee at Wednesday’s meeting. “A little over three years ago, we passed the Transportation Modernization Act, which set us on a path not only to innovate how we build and renovate roads and maintain roads, but also innovate our approach to funding these projects in a way that would safeguard the taxpayers of Tennessee in the future for transportation projects.” The new choice lanes went to bid among four different private sector organizations, with Drive TN ultimately being awarded the proposal on a price tag of $9.2 billion over a 50-year period.

The group estimates a return of roughly $24 billion to the state. Both parties say further enhancements may be a possibility as the project develops, and