New Salem Highway (State Route 99)

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 were divided into three sections:

From West of Veterans Parkway (SW Loop) to Cason Lane

The 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 was awarded to a contractor in October 2024 and construction began in February 2025.

From I-24 to SR-96 (Old Fort Parkway)

Phase 2 widened SR 99 from east of I-24, near West Molloy Lane / Middle Tennessee Boulevard, to the intersection of SR 96 (Old Fort Parkway). This Phase also includes improvements of the existing signalized intersections within the project limits. All lanes opened on January 17, 2025. 

From Cason Lane to I-24

Phase 1 widened 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. This Phase also included improvements of the four existing signalized intersections within the project limits.