Tennessee Toll Roads Project Set To Begin With I-24 In Nashville
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The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
As a result of Gov. Bill Lee’s (R-TN) Transportation Modernization Act, Tennessee’s Department of Transportation (TDOT) has been approved to move forward with plans for toll roads in the state.
During a February 26th meeting of the Transportation Modernization Board, members unanimously voted to begin the state’s toll road project with I-24 from Nashville to Murfreesboro.
Supporters of bringing toll lanes to Tennessee have cited the major increase in population over the last several years which has led to greater traffic on the roads.
According to TDOT, over 600,000 people moved to Tennessee from out of state between 2010 and 2020. This is without taking into consideration the number of people who have fled to Tennessee from other states in the years since 2020.
TDOT has also stated that the state’s roadways are not prepared to withstand the use of this continually increasing population.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know this is one of the most traveled corridors in the state,” said TDOT Community Relations Officer Rebekah Hammonds, “and with the anticipated growth in that area, we know that this particular corridor is one that really needs to be addressed.”
However, Tennesseans will not be driving on toll roads anytime soon. The first phases of toll lane construction are not slated to begin until the summer of 2026.
For now several studies will be conducted on the area of concern. This includes feasibility studies and congestion studies.
Once these studies conclude, TDOT will begin to review bids from private companies that the state could partner with to complete the project.
“A private entity will take on the cost design, construction, maintenance of these projects,” said Hammonds. “With this, the private entity will take on that cost, but will recoup it through those user fees that those choice lanes will have.”
Exact numbers for how much it will cost drivers to use these toll roads are not yet available.
Some Democrat state lawmakers have been pushing for local governments to have a say in whether these “choice lanes” are implemented in their area of the state.
In response, Gov. Lee has argued that his administration is not creating “dedicated toll roads” that drivers are forced to use, but “choice roads” that drivers may choose to use at their discretion.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee.
You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
So , they all come here to escape the Hells that they created elsewhere and now our great state is being transformed into one of those hells. SMFH … I say we build border walls around the state. The find everyone one of those people that moved here and charge them an impact fee of 5k and then an impact tax of 3% until they have been here long enough to have contributed substantially to pay for the expenses that they have caused.
Follow the m$n$y
Part of the reason I fled Illinois was because of the toll roads. The project began as a way to fund a new interstate and was supposed to be temporary back in the 1950s. Now the toll authority is an entity unto itself that seeks to grow where it can. It has tried to get through the legislature a pay-per-mile for all Illinois roads. This needs to be entirely scrapped here in Tennessee because what will happen is a large part of the people won’t go for it, and then you’ll get a lot of new traffic on roads not designed for interstate use. Tennessee a couple of years ago raised it’s gasoline tax by ten cents and it no longer has the cheapest fuel in the country, what did the state do with all that revenue? I am totally against all this folly and will be writing my reps to try to kill this before it takes off.
I agree with Mike – he makes sense.
Good article Adelia. Thank you.
The new toll road will be owned by a foreign company, not the State of TN. I am serious. It is outrageous.
You can’t say Gary Humble and Tennessee Stands didn’t warn you!
The lying nanny statist scum who control your general assembly and executive branch will have this state the envy of states the likes of New York, Massachusetts, Illinois very soon!!
Carbon mile tax footprint next!!
The government you elect is the government you deserve.
~Thomas Jefferson
Not a get out and vote for your unopposed rino pukes on Tuesday 🤣🤣🤣😁🇺🇸
“Choice lanes” versus “toll roads” sounds like “speed humps” versus “speed bumps.” TDOT needs to focus on repaving the many bad state roads. If highways need to be expanded (lanes added), then do it, but don’t allow a private (national or foreign) company to own the “toll roads!” Repave the sorry roads! That’s the priority! I have spoken (AppalachianIrishman.com).
Here we go again . The RINOs are creating the hell that the people from the communist controlled states just fled from . I say that those that enter the state from the Blue State Hell Holes they are fleeing should be the ones required to pay any toll . There has to be a way to tax those , if not by the tolls , that come to our state fleeing communism elsewhere . A damn good start would be to send all illegal invaders into Communist States ( how about Martha’s Vineyard ) to reduce the numbers of people in the state . Why is Bill Lee not adamant about getting them the hell out of Tennessee ?