Reminder: Don't forget about Broad St bridge work on The Murfreesboro Post

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Reminder: Don't forget about Broad St bridge work

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By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer

Reminder: Don't forget about Broad St bridge work | TRAFFIC

More than 35,000 cars pass through the Broad and Main street intersection every day and those drivers will not be able to make left-hand turns for the next month and a half, Tennessee’s Department of Transportation’s spokeswoman said.

Next Tuesday night, Thursday night at the latest, TDOT will begin the repair of two bridges crossing Lytle Creek on Northwest Broad Street. Signs are already posted to remind motorists about the project.

The road will be reduced to two lanes in both directions between Vine Street and Old Fort Parkway for the first phase of the bridges’ repair. Mostly importantly, no left turns will be allowed during the first month of construction.

“The center turn lane will also be closed during construction,” TDOT Public Information Officer B.J. Doughty said. “Main Street will remain open, but left turns from (or to) Northwest Broad will not be allowed due to the work involved.”

The bridges over Lytle Creek, built in 1949, are located at the Main Street intersection and a block north of the intersection. Neither bridge has had major repairs in their 60-year history, but TDOT has done minor concrete repairs over the years, Doughty said.

When last inspected by TDOT in December 2006, the bridge at the Main Street intersection was found to be in poor condition, and the northern bridge was found in fair condition. Their conditions have deteriorated since, prompting TDOT to begin the project.

The project should be finished by the middle of June and is estimated to cost $1,156,155.82.

“The city is not doing this project. … It’s a state project on a state route,” City of Murfreesboro Traffic Engineer Ram Balachandran said, adding questions should be directed to TDOT Representative Jamie Fitzpatrick at 898-8005.

He also asks the public to seek alternate routes around the construction zone.

“If you come from the Square you can only make right turns – right in and right out from both directions on Main Street,” Balachandran said, adding traffic crossing Broad Street from Main in both directions will not be allowed because the center of the intersection will be missing for around a month.

Drivers also will be blocked from making left-hand turns into any businesses along the stretch of roadway, he said.

Signs will be placed on Old Fort Parkway, Medical Center Parkway at Broad Street, Memorial Boulevard and Medical Center Parkway, Southeast Broad Street and Maney Avenue, and Church Street and Middle Tennessee Boulevard alerting drivers to the construction and possible delays.

These locations for the signs were chosen to give drivers enough time to take an alternate route, Balachandran said.

The bridge replacement will take place in three phases. The first being the most painful for area drivers, he said.

The second phase should begin in March. Traffic will be shifted to the east, or Square-side of Broad Street, and Main Street will be re-opened to cross traffic.

“In Phase 2, you get back left turn lanes. … It will be awkward, but you can make it,” Balachandran said.

Phase 3 of the project is similar, but traffic will be shifted to the west and left turns will be allowed.

The Lytle Street branch of the Greenway underneath the Main Street bridge will be closed because of the risk of falling debris, Doughty said.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.

Tagged under TRAFFIC

Member Opinions:

By: JM325 on 2/8/09
"...traffic crossing Broad Street from Main in both directions will not be allowed because the center of the intersection will be missing for around a month."

I can't even imagine how big a mess this will be.

By: Steveo on 2/8/09
Well, Lowe's might as well go ahead and file for bankruptcy...I won't be able to get there for 6 weeks!

By: scfutebol77 on 2/8/09
"...in December 2006, the bridge at the Main Street intersection was found to be in poor condition..."

I'm glad it has taken a little over two years for them to get on this bridge in poor condition. They would have felt like idiots if something would have happened before then.

By: Trvlace on 2/8/09
Oh yes this is going to be fun....not! I guess it does beat falling into Lytle Creek however. But, just what are we going to do with the 35,000 cars that travel thru there every day? The square? Better come up with some detour plans...

By: lupusman on 2/8/09
I am a little puzzled at Steveo's remarks. What has Lowes got to do with Broad and Main Street? Lowe's is located about 2 miles from there and there are plenty of routes to get you there.

By: barrettbear on 2/8/09
And Trvlace, I am pretty sure you will find alternate routes as well, before the whole project is finished.

By: vdanr on 2/9/09
Why do some people complain about everything? I see no problem with taking an alternate route for these bridges to be repaired. It beats having them collapse and people getting injured.

By: lduke on 2/9/09
lupusman~it was a joke

By: Macgyver on 2/9/09
Forget Lowes, I'm going to have a tough time getting my chicken from Dodges!

By: candvlawn on 2/10/09
Dodges chicken? NASTY!! I think they get the oil for the chicken cooker from the gas pumps out side :) "Just Kidding" Its going to stink in that area, but its just another reason to stay home and not wast fuel.

By: JM325 on 2/10/09
This has nothing to do with Main, but does anyone know who we can contact about missing road signs? Thompson Lane, north of Broad, narrows from two lanes to one and THE WARNING SIGNS ARE GONE. It is a dangerous situation for horse trailers headed to Miller Coliseum. Many of them are from out-of-town.

By: Geana on 2/10/09
Thanks M'Boro Post for printing the map of the the area. It's helpful to know what to avoid.

By: Trvlace on 2/10/09
It is not I whom should find and alternate route, it is the 35,000 other cars I worry about. It is going to be and outright mess!!! I can see the traffic now. It is bad already, but cut out a couple lanes and the turn lane too? I know they have studied this forever, there must not be an alternative. I think the fastest repair is about all they can hope for. I think the areas to avoid are going to be Church Street, Old Fort/Memorial Corridor, The Square, and Medical Center Parkway, as they will have and additional 35,000 cars spread out stuck in traffic in the middle of the road all over these corridors!

By: barrettbear on 2/10/09
JM325, out of town or in town, sign or no sign, as well as any other area of the nature on Thompson Lane, caution should be in place with every driver on the road. Safe
and courteous driving should be the upmost important two things to use. Then we would not share the burden of these little one lane, two lane causing problems at all or to a minimum. Yet wonder where the next driver and their automobile will be upside down in a ditch.