NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Metro leaders have been working on safety improvements all across Nashville, but South Nashville in particular has seen a rise in neighborhood roadway — and other — upgrades.

Metro has doubled down on improving South Nashville roadways. The Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure has completed 21 new paving projects in the area. Additionally, intersection improvements at Blue Hole Road and Puttus Road have been completed and a roundabout was recently installed.

The one-lane roundabout serves as a gateway entrance into Orchard Bend Park. Other upgrades include a new sidewalk, better pedestrian signals and a renovated guardrail on Old Hickory Boulevard.

Alex Apple, Deputy Communications Director for the Office of Mayor Freddie O'Connell, said the mayor believes Nashville's strength lies in its neighborhoods. O'Connell wants residents to feel the work of the local government trying to make the community better. 

“When we look at improvements to the roadways, whether it’s paving or redesigning an intersection for safety or replacing a guardrail, it’s really the work of each individual Metro department,” Apple said.

Apple said it’s part of the job to make sure Nashvillians know about the work going on around them. This, Apple added, is just the tip of the iceberg. 

“With the improvements coming through Choose How You Move, which 66% of Nashville voters said yes on, that’s a really powerful statement from Nashvillians about the need for better infrastructure and to work on some roads and some areas we haven’t been able to make meaningful change on in decades," Apple said.

South Nashville will see more change soon. In early November, the Metro Nashville Police Department's Southeast Precinct will open. City leaders hope it will increase police response times in that area. 

“The intention from the mayor has always been that you cannot merely work on just downtown," Apple said. "We have to be present and improving constantly and have a dialogue about what residents want in their neighborhood."

Apple added that Metro has leaned in to where they’re seeing success to continue showing up for neighborhoods like South Nashville.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/middle-tn-neighborhood-news/south-nashville-improvements-mayor/