McEwen Drive Interchange Now Open to Traffic
Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely and Franklin Mayor Tom Miller today opened the new McEwen Drive Interchange to traffic two months ahead of schedule. The interchange is located on Interstate 65 in Williamson County and was originally scheduled for completion by the end of November 2007.
“This project is the result of a successful partnership between TDOT, the city of Franklin, and the contractor,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “The McEwen Drive interchange will improve commute times for those who live and work in the Cool Springs area, and will help alleviate some of the congestion on nearby streets.”
Commissioner Nicely joined Mayor Miller and other state and local officials on top of the new interchange at 9:00 a.m. today, Friday, September 14, to cut the ribbon and open the interchange to traffic.
Mayor Miller described the importance of the new junction to the city of Franklin. “We are very proud to have this state of the art interchange in Franklin. Not only will it help serve the growing transportation needs of our community, it will also be a beautiful new gateway into our city. I want to thank TDOT and the contractor for delivering this much needed project in such a timely manner.”
The planning for this project began in 1997, and the proposed interchange was incorporated into the Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Long Range Plan in 1998. Construction of the $29.9 Million interchange began in late 2005.
Rick Turner, Vice President of Rogers Group, Mid-Central Division added, “I want to congratulate our employees for a job well done. These men and women worked diligently through one of the hottest summers on record to deliver this project ahead of schedule.”
TDOT estimates that 28,000 vehicles will use this part of McEwen Drive, in addition to the 83,500 that travel this stretch of I-65 daily. To see an animation of how traffic will move on this single point urban interchange, please click here.