NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, is celebrating the recent completion of the widening of Jefferson Pike (State Route 266) in Rutherford County.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation last week announced the completion of the roughly four-mile project from Nissan Drive (State Route 102) to east of Interstate 840.
“Making Jefferson Pike safer for drivers has been a priority of mine for years, and I’m excited that the widening is now complete,” said Sparks, who has advocated for improvements since the early 2000s. “Having owned two businesses on Jefferson Pike, I have witnessed firsthand many horrific incidents, including the tragic death of 19-year-old Jonathan Phillips, who was valedictorian of Oakland High School in 2002. This project will improve road and pedestrian safety in our community and prepare the area for future development. I’m grateful to TDOT, Smyrna Mayor Mary Esther Reed and the town council for their work and advocacy on this important issue.”
The $61 million project expanded the road from two total lanes to four (two in each direction), largely separated by a 14-foot concrete median.
Jefferson Pike consists of two segments, including an urban segment from Nissan Drive to east of the Stones River Bridge and a rural segment to east of I-840. The improved urban segment includes five-foot bike lanes and six-foot sidewalks on each side, helping protect motorists and pedestrians, while the rural segment has 12-foot shoulders. A new bridge was constructed over the Stones River.
The expansion project was completed on budget and will increase capacity, connect communities and improve traffic operations and safety, according to TDOT. The department says motorists could continue to experience intermittent lane closures as crews carry out final texture coating work.
For more information about the project, visit the TDOT website here.
State Rep. Mike Sparks represents District 49 in the Tennessee House of Representatives, which includes part of Rutherford County.