SMYRNA, Tenn. (WKRN) — After years of calling for change, Representative Mike Sparks is thankful to see the widening of Jefferson Pike in Smyrna complete.

Roughly 20 years ago, he called News 2 after witnessing one of the worst crashes he'd ever seen. It was on the narrow roadway and involved a baby hitting a windshield. 

“Those issues — they stick with you,” Sparks said.

In 2019, he called News 2 again after yet another fatal crash. He called on the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the governor to make improvements.  

“This needs to be a number one priority for the state of Tennessee before we have another fatality like we just had recently,” Sparks said in 2019. 

The same year, Smyrna police reported seeing more than 70 crashes in a five-year span. Two years later, TDOT began widening the road. 

Flash forward to July 2025, and Sparks called News 2 again — this time glad to report the widening project was complete. 

"The good thing about trauma in those areas, a lot of times you can use that for good — for positive change, and I think that's really what's come about today. Sadly those crashes, like Johnathan Phillips losing his life, have really led to this completion,” Sparks said.  

Sparks used to own a car lot along Jefferson Pike — across from the Ace Hardware Ginny Williams used to own. Sparks and Williams met up to see the completed project.  

“I always said we have a country road with city traffic,” said Williams, who now serves as president of the Gilsville Family Center.

The roughly $61 million widening spans from Sam Ridley Parkway to Interstate 840. After all these years of hoping to see change, Sparks is glad to see the story come full circle. 

"This isn't fake news. This is positive news, and it just took the power of a story with WKRN to — I promise you, this would not be happening if it wasn't for WKRN covering this,” Sparks said.  

To access Jefferson Pike, the Town of Smyrna is working on widening the turn lane along Sam Ridley. 

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/state-rep-thanks-news-2-following-jefferson-pike-widening/