MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — The City of Murfreesboro is making room for more families and vehicles on the road.
The Murfreesboro City Council plans to address both congestion points with a nearly $5 million road improvement project.
A report from UT Knoxville estimates that more than 30,000 new residents will move to Rutherford County in the next four years. As a result, school enrollment rates have increased, creating overcrowding in classrooms.
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“I think people want a great education for their children, and moving to get that education is very important for a lot of parents,” Murfreesboro resident Sarah Harper said.
To meet the growing needs, a new elementary school will open in August, followed by a new middle school. However, both are near a very busy intersection.
“The roads are congested in the morning times and afternoon times, especially around the school hours,” Murfreesboro resident Chris Perez said.
The intersection of Burnt Knob, Mansion Pike, and Blackman Road has been a point of frustration for several nearby residents.
“If you come out of our subdivision, say around seven in the morning when a lot of people are leaving for their commute, the four-way stop there is completely backed up all the way to Murfreesboro, so there is a lot of congestion and heartache,” resident Jason Conner said.
Some residents also added that they plan ahead before leaving their homes in the morning, due to the long wait times at the two-lane, four-way stop.
A traffic impact study from last year agreed, stating the data showed construction on the new schools would create “unacceptable delays” at the already crowded intersection.
Last week, city council members approved a $4.8 million construction plan that would add turn and through lanes and a traffic signal to the intersection.
Nearby residents told News 2 they think the city is making a good effort to keep pace with development.
“I think it will be a popular decision,” Perez said. “I think it is a good decision. More schools for the kids, not so congested classrooms.”
“What is being done is going to satisfy the people that have been here for some time and not get more congested and turn into, you know, mini Los Angeles, if you will, or mini Atlanta,” Conner said.
Conner added, despite the growth, the town feel is still there.
“We moved here for the peace and quiet, and it’s been great to us,” Conner concluded. “It is just that we have a lot of neighbors now that we didn’t have before.”
The contract with the construction company is now pending legal review.
