Interstate 24 Southeast Choice Lanes

Davidson and Rutherford counties

The proposed Interstate 24 (I-24) Southeast Choice Lanes project would construct new, optional Choice Lanes on I-24 between Nashville and Murfreesboro. Choice Lanes are priced-managed lanes that use pricing to proactively manage demand and provide travel-time reliability. The proposed Choice Lanes would allow motorists to maintain consistent travel speeds even when the adjacent existing lanes are congested.

By adding capacity to this heavily traveled roadway, operations are expected to improve in this major growth area. Choice Lanes would provide another option for motorists to bypass congestion, allowing motorists to maintain consistent travel times. The Choice Lanes would be new, optional lanes designed, built, financed, operated and maintained by a private-sector partner through a Public-Private Partnership (P3), with initial funding provided by the Transportation Modernization Act (TMA).

Project Staus: The Project Team is hosting a series of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Public Hearings to present the Environmental Assessment and Recommended Preferred Alternative. Learn more about the public hearings below.

Approved Environmental Assessment

Click the above link to review the Approved I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Environmental Assessment and appendices.

^{Get involved in the I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Project}

> Virtual Public Hearing Materials

> Submit Comments Online

Comments: TDOT will be soliciting comments through Thursday, March 31, 2026, via the options below.

Email: TDOT.24ChoiceLanes@tn.gov
Project Hotline Recording: (615) 451-8039
Mail: I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Project Tennessee Department of Transportation, William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower, 312 Rosa L Parks Ave., 24th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243-0332

Public Comments received or postmarked by March 31, 2026, will be included in the official comment summary of the Public Hearings.

Three Public Hearings were held for the public to learn more about the I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Environmental Assessment and Recommended Preferred Alternative.

March 3, 2026
5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Smyrna Event Center

100 Sam Ridley Parkway East Smyrna, TN 37167 March 4, 2026
5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Coleman Park Community Center

384 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37211 March 5, 2026
5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Coleman Park Community Center
384 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37211

All hearings began at 5:00 p.m. and ended at 7:30 p.m. The formal presentation and Q&A began at 5:30 p.m. All hearings included the same information.

History and Background

Tennessee’s historic growth has significantly increased traffic in urban areas, leading to chronic congestion along key corridors. This highlights the urgent need to modernize infrastructure to accommodate both current and future demand. According to TDOT’s Congestion Studies, an estimated $30 billion (as of 2022) is required to address congestion in both urban and rural areas. With the authorization of P3s, Choice Lanes have emerged as a viable solution to help alleviate urban congestion

Public Involvement and Engagement

In accordance with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) regulations and under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an environmental document is required that identifies the significance of a project’s environmental impact. Environmental studies are underway, and the project team will communicate and coordinate with the public and stakeholders often.

We’re inviting you to the I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes project National Environmental Policy Act Public (NEPA) Hearings. The purpose of the hearings is to provide the public an opportunity to provide input on the approved I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Environmental Assessment prior to completion of the final environmental document and meet the requirements of NEPA. Take a look below to learn more about the hearings!

Public Hearings

March 3, 2026
5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Smyrna Event Center 100 Sam Ridley Parkway East Smyrna, TN 37167

March 4, 2026
Coleman Community Center
5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
384 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37211

March 5, 2026
5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Coleman Community Center
384 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37211

Can’t make it? Don’t worry! The exact same materials shown at the Public Hearing Materials will be available online from March 3 - March 26. Materials will include the approved Environmental Assessment (which is linked above) and associated technical studies, project displays, public hearing handout, PowerPoint presentation and comment card.

Comments: TDOT will be soliciting comments through Thursday, March 26, 2026, via the options below.

Email: TDOT.24ChoiceLanes@tn.govProject
Hotline Recording: (615) 451-8039
Mail: I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Project Tennessee Department of Transportation, William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower, 312 Rosa L Parks Ave., 24th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243-0332

Public Comments received or postmarked by March 26, 2026, will be included in the official comment summary of the Public Hearings.

Persons with a disability, who require aids or services to participate in the meeting, may contact TDOT ADA Coordinator Shanna Chevalier no less than 10 days prior to the date of the meeting at Shanna.Chevalier@tn.gov or by phone at (615) 741-0465, TTY Relay (877) 831-0298.

Previous Public Meetings

Previous public meetings were held in August 2024. Following those meetings, TDOT revised portions of the environmental review based on stakeholder feedback. A second round of Public Informational Meetings were held in September and October of 2025 to present the revised information and gather feedback. The summaries of those Public Information Meetings can be reviewed online by clicking the links below.

August 2024 Public Information Meeting Summary
September/October 2025 Public Information Meeting Summary

In February of 2025, an addendum was made to the 2025 Comment Response Matrix. While all comments received during the public comment period were included in the project database and reviewed as part of the formal evaluation process, a small number of comments were inadvertently omitted from the initially published Comment Response Matrix for the 2025 Public Information Meetings due to a clerical error. This addendum is not currently reflected in the approved Environmental Assessment, but it will be included in the final environmental document. The addendum can be reviewed by clicking the link below. Physical copies of the addendum will also be provided at Public Hearings on March 3, 4, and 5.

2025 Comment Response Matrix Addendum

Previous Meeting Dates/Locations

August 14, 2024, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Virtual Public Information Meeting
View a recording of the virtual public meeting held on August 14, 2024, here.
August 21, 2024, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Smyrna Event Center
August 28, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Fairgrounds Nashville
August 29, 2024, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Southeast Community Center
September 30, 2025, 5 - 7 p.m.
Smyrna Event Center
October 1, 2025, 5 - 7 p.m.
Coleman Park Community Center
October 2, 2025, 5 - 7 p.m.
Southeast Community Center

TDOT has also held three live stream presentations for stakeholders, the first being in August 2024, the second in March 2024 and the third in December 2024. You can watch the recordings of those streams below.

March Stakeholder Live Stream

August Stakeholder Live Stream

December Stakeholder Live Stream

Public Involvement Resources

Is your organization or group interested in learning more about the proposed project? Click here to request a speaker to discuss the proposed I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes project.

Newsletter

Stay up to date on Tennessee's first-ever Choice Lanes project! Sign up for our project newsletter today by clicking here.

August 2025 Newsletter

July 2025 Newsletter

May 2025 Newsletter

April 2025 Newsletter

March 2025 Newsletter

February 2025 Newsletter

December 2024 Newsletter

"Happy Holidays from the TDOT Choice Lanes Team! 🎄We've had a busy year and want to make sure that you all know where we are with the development of the proposed project."