New Salem Highway (State Route 99)
Rutherford County
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) plans to improve New Salem Highway (State Route 99) from Veterans Parkway (Southwest Loop) to State Route 96 (Old Fort Parkway) in Rutherford County. The project consists of widening the two-lane roadway to a five-lane facility, allowing for a dedicated center turn lane.
The proposed improvements cover approximately seven miles but exclude the area within the I-24 interchange, as that section was previously widened under a separate project. Planned improvements will address safety, mobility, and operation of the route by enhancing access to both residential and commercial sites and by increasing roadway capacity to meet current and future traffic needs. SR 99 is an urban arterial route that was added to the state road system in 1931. Today, it connects the City of Murfreesboro to developing areas southwest of the city and beyond.
Due to the size of improvements to SR 99, TDOT split the project into three segments. One segment completed construction in 2021. The second segment, from I-24 to SR 96, is currently under construction. The final segment, from west of Veterans Parkway to Cason Lane, is identified for funding in TDOT's 10-Year Project Plan, with construction scheduled for Fiscal Year 2024.
Current Status: The segment from west of Veterans Parkway to Cason Lane is in the right-of-way (ROW) acquisition process. From I-24 to SR 96, construction is underway.
Estimated construction start: Varies
Estimated completion*: Varies
| Rutherford County |
||
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: Cason Lane to I-24 |
Construction | Completed 2021 |
| Phase 2: I-24 to State Route 96 |
Construction | November 2024 (estimated) |
| Phase 3: Veterans Parkway to Cason Lane |
Construction | Starting Fiscal Year 2024 (estimated) |
History and Background
The existing route is a two-lane highway with turn lanes at various intersections. The proposed project will widen the roadway to five lanes with two 12-foot travel lanes in each direction, a 12-foot center turn lane, and 12-foot shoulders with curbs and sidewalks. The minimum right-of-way width will be 108 feet with permanent and temporary easements as needed.
Improvements along SR 99 have been divided into three sections:
From west of Veterans Parkway (SW Loop) to Cason Lane
The proposed project widens SR 99 approximately 2.4 miles, from west of Veterans Parkway to Cason Lane, including the widening of the existing box bridges on SR 99 over Armstrong Branch and on Old Salem Road over Puckett Creek. The existing signals at the Veterans Parkway and St. Andrews Drive intersections will be improved. Signal modifications at the Cason Lane intersection will be included in a separate widening project (from Cason Lane to I-24). This section is currently in the right-of-way acquisition phase.
From Cason Lane to I-24
The proposed project widens SR 99 approximately 2.0 miles, from west of Cason Lane to east of Warrior Drive near I-24, including the widening of the existing bridge over the West Fork Stones River. (NOTE: While the bridge is being widened, the existing greenway underneath will be closed.) The four existing signalized intersections within the project limits will be improved.
From I-24 to SR-96 (Old Fort Parkway)
The proposed project widens SR 99 from east of I-24, near West Molloy Lane / Middle Tennessee Boulevard, to the intersection of SR 96 (Old Fort Parkway). The existing signalized intersections within the project limits will be improved. Additional turn lanes will be provided at SR 96.
Key Project Milestones
Transportation projects are developed in four phases: Planning and Environmental, Design, Right-of-Way (ROW), and Construction. The following is a reflection of various aspects of these phases as they have occurred or will occur on the improvements of the three sections of State Route 99 (New Salem Highway). Improvements along SR 99 have been divided into three sections.
West of Veterans Parkway (SW Loop) to Cason Lane |
|
ROW Process |
Currently Underway |
Contract Award Date |
November 2024 |
Cason Lane to I-24 |
|
Contract Award Date |
March 2018 |
Completion Date |
September 2021 |
I-24 to SR 96 (Old Fort Parkway) |
|
ROW Process |
Completed |
Contract Awarded |
November 2022 |
Construction Estimated Completion Date |
November 2024 |
Project Contacts
Erin Zeigler
TDOT Region 3 Regional Communications Officer (Media)
Phone: 629.277.2458
Email: Erin.Zeigler@tn.gov
Hunter Dykes
TDOT District 39 Manager
Email: Hunter.Dykes@tn.gov
CJ Tong, P.E.
TDOT Region 3 Project Management (Phase 3)
Phone: 615.350.4163
Email: Christopher.Tong@tn.gov
*Subject to change