South Nashville neighbors are demanding that the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) address existing road safety problems before the $9.2 billion I‑24 Choice Lanes project begins construction. At a Thursday night meeting, the community organization 16th United mapped out concerns on several state‑maintained roads, including Nolensville Pike, Murfreesboro Pike, Harding Place, Thompson Lane and Old Hickory Boulevard.
Residents fear added traffic will worsen existing hazards
Julie James, president of 16th United, warned that once construction starts on I‑24, a significant portion of traffic will be rerouted onto the surrounding streets. “We know that when the construction starts on I‑24, a lot of that traffic is going to be diverted here. And so what is already a problem is just going to get worse,” James said.
The group wants the current deficiencies – unsafe crossings, missing sidewalks, inadequate lighting and outdated traffic signals – fixed before additional vehicles flood the area. “I want to prioritize and get them fixed before the additional traffic starts hitting our communities,” James added.
Mapping community concerns
During the meeting, volunteers created a visual map that pins each request submitted by neighbors or posted on the group’s Facebook page. “And then every comment that we got from my neighbor or on Facebook, we added a pin. It just gives a visual to all the different things that people are looking for,” James explained.
One illustrative example showed a resident’s route to a nearby Kroger store. Using only legal crosswalks, the walk measured 2.1 miles, highlighting the difficulty of navigating the neighborhood on foot.
Community‑driven prioritization process
16th United’s Thursday gathering was the first step in turning individual complaints into a prioritized list that can be presented to state officials. The group has not yet finalized a formal request to TDOT, but plans to continue gathering feedback, narrow the concerns to the most critical items, and seek support from other local organizations before submitting a comprehensive proposal.
Gib Jeffries, a community member who attended the meeting, expressed hope that the process will bring neighbors together. “Really what I’d like to see is the community come together and come to agreement about the problems and just how to work together to form solutions,” he said.
Why safety matters for families and faith‑based neighborhoods
For many South Nashville families, safe sidewalks and well‑lit streets are essential for children walking to school, churches, and after‑school activities. The group’s emphasis on pedestrian safety reflects a broader commitment to protecting families and upholding the community’s Christian values of caring for one’s neighbor.
As the I‑24 Choice Lanes project moves forward, 16th United hopes its safety checklist will be taken seriously by TDOT, ensuring that the infrastructure improvements do not come at the expense of local residents’ well‑being.
Next steps
16th United will hold additional meetings to refine its list of priorities and will reach out to other neighborhood groups for endorsements. Once the final proposal is ready, the organization plans to present it to TDOT officials and request a meeting to discuss implementation timelines and funding.
Residents are encouraged to continue submitting concerns via the group’s Facebook page or by contacting 16th United directly.
Original reporting: NewsChannel 5 WTVF (Scripps) – local — read the source article.
