MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – With Interstate 24 serving as the primary transportation spine through La Vergne, Smyrna, and Murfreesboro, the City of Murfreesboro is advising residents of an upcoming public hearing hosted by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) regarding the proposed I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Project.

TDOT will conduct the Rutherford County public hearing Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at the Smyrna Event Center, 100 Sam Ridley Parkway East, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with a formal presentation and question-and-answer session beginning at 5:30 p.m. Additional hearings are scheduled March 4 and March 5 in Nashville.

The purpose of the meeting is to present findings from the project’s Environmental Assessment (EA) and to gather public comment on the Recommended Preferred Alternative for the proposed corridor improvements.

What Is the I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Project? The proposed project would add new, optional Choice Lanes along approximately 24 miles of I-24, stretching from I-40 near downtown Nashville to I-840 near Murfreesboro in Davidson and Rutherford counties.

Choice Lanes are priced, managed lanes designed to regulate congestion through variable tolling. Drivers who choose to use the lanes would pay a fee intended to maintain consistent travel speeds, even during peak congestion in the general-purpose lanes.

TDOT officials say the corridor has experienced sustained congestion driven by rapid population growth in Rutherford County and increased commuter traffic into Davidson County. The project is being advanced in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.

The lanes would be delivered through a Public-Private Partnership (P3) model, leveraging financing mechanisms authorized under Tennessee’s Transportation Modernization Act. Total project value is currently estimated between $3.21 billion and $3.49 billion, with approximately $2.69 billion attributed to developer costs including construction, design, escalation, and contingency.

Environmental Assessment: Key Findings Affecting Rutherford County

The Environmental Assessment identifies several anticipated impacts along the corridor, including within portions of La Vergne, Smyrna, and Murfreesboro:

Right-of-Way & Displacements

• 25 total displacements are anticipated.

• 8–10 residential relocations.

• 15–17 commercial/industrial relocations.

• Right-of-way or easements may be required from approximately 119 to 139 parcels.

Wetlands & Streams

• Estimated impacts to 5.58–6.3 acres of wetlands.

• Between 15,619 and 18,818 linear feet of streams potentially affected.

• An Individual Section 404 permit is anticipated.

Floodplains

• Anticipated impacts to Mill Creek and Collins Creek FEMA regulatory floodways, pending hydraulic studies.

Noise - Noise impacts are anticipated within the project corridor. TDOT is currently collecting measurements and evaluating the feasibility of constructing or reconstructing noise barriers.

Historic & Community Resources - One National Register-listed property, Mount Olivet Cemetery, lies within the Environmental Technical Study Area, though no effect is anticipated. Potential de minimis Section 4(f) determinations may be required for certain park or historic resources.

Changes to Federal Environmental Review - The EA documentation reflects recent federal policy changes in early 2025 that removed requirements for greenhouse gas emissions and environmental justice analyses from the federal review process. According to the project documentation, those analyses were not included in the Environmental Assessment and were not considered in the federal decision-making process.

However, TDOT indicates that social, economic, and community impacts continue to be disclosed in accordance with federal transportation regulations.

Why This Matters to Rutherford County - For Rutherford County residents, the I-24 corridor is more than a commuter route — it is the economic artery connecting homes in La Vergne, Smyrna, and Murfreesboro to employment centers in Nashville and beyond. Local officials have repeatedly identified congestion relief as a top infrastructure priority.

The proposed project seeks to:

• Improve travel time reliability.

• Increase corridor capacity.

• Provide commuters with a congestion-managed option.

• Support continued regional economic growth

Because I-24 directly traverses all three Rutherford County municipalities, decisions made through this Environmental Assessment process could affect neighborhoods, businesses, and daily commute patterns countywide.

More Details / Documents / Environmental Impact Information:

• LETTER of INTENT: Click HERE to open or to download more environmental information released by the State of Tennessee regarding the roadways and the environment and how the federal government fits into the picture. The information also highlights an Executive Order signed by President Trump on January 20, 2025 and how a variety of presidential and federal actions may impact Rutherford County and 94 other counties throughout the State (See the PDF).
  
  
• STUDIES: To see the complete I-24 Corridor Study that focuses on the environment, Click Here to visit the Appendix of Documents as released by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Public Participation - Residents, commuters, business owners, and property owners are encouraged to attend the March 3 hearing in Smyrna or submit comments during the public comment period.

TDOT representatives will present the Recommended Preferred Alternative and accept public input before advancing further in the federal approval process.

Release from the City of Murfreesboro, TN:

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – As an interested stakeholder, the City of Murfreesboro advises residents that the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will conduct a public hearing, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at the Smyrna Event Center, 100 Sam Ridley Pkwy E, Smyrna, TN 37167, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. The purpose is to provide an opportunity learn about the I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Project Interstate 24 Southeast Choice Lanes and receive public comment on the project Environmental Assessment and Recommended Preferred Alternative.

Representatives from TDOT will be available to give a formal presentation, explain the proposed project, and answer questions. Q&A begins at 5:30 p.m. which will be followed by Q&A. 

TDOT, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) in accordance with NEPA requirements to identify and evaluate the environmental effects of the proposed project and to identify measures to minimize harm. The intent of this meeting is to accept public comments and discuss the purpose and need for the I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Project along with its impact.

The proposed Interstate 24 (I-24) Southeast Choice Lanes project would construct new, optional Choice Lanes on I-24 between Nashville and Murfreesboro. Choice Lanes are priced-managed lanes that use pricing to proactively manage demand and provide travel-time reliability. The proposed Choice Lanes would allow motorists to maintain consistent travel speeds even when the adjacent existing lanes are congested.

From the State of Tennessee and the TDOT: The proposed Interstate 24 (I-24) Southeast Choice Lanes project would construct new, optional Choice Lanes on I-24 between Nashville and Murfreesboro. Choice Lanes are priced-managed lanes that use pricing to proactively manage demand and provide travel-time reliability. The proposed Choice Lanes would allow motorists to maintain consistent travel speeds even when the adjacent existing lanes are congested.

By adding capacity to this heavily traveled roadway, operations are expected to improve in this major growth area. Choice Lanes would provide another option for motorists to bypass congestion, allowing motorists to maintain consistent travel times. The Choice Lanes would be new, optional lanes designed, built, financed, operated and maintained by a private-sector partner through a Public-Private Partnership (P3), with initial funding provided by the Transportation Modernization Act (TMA).

Need More Information? For more information on the project and alternative ways to participate, visit TDOT website Interstate 24 Southeast Choice Lanes. Email questions to TDOT.24ChoiceLanes@tn.gov or by calling (615) 451-8039.