NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee Department of Transportation wants to hear from you on its plan to build toll lanes along I-24 between Nashville and Murfreesboro.

They currently have three upcoming project public information meetings:

• Sept. 30, Smyrna Event Center: 100 Sam Ridley Parkway East, Smyrna, TN 37167
• Oct. 1, Coleman Park Community Center: 384 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37211
• Oct. 2, Southeast Community Center: 5260 Hickory Hollow Parkway #202, Antioch, TN 37013

Driving between Nashville and Murfreesboro can bring a wide range of emotions for drivers.

"I think it's real bad, and it sucks," Susan Henry said.

"It seems like rush hour here is all day and all night now," Toyya Brown said. "I left here at 6:30 p.m., leaving out of La Vergne to Green Hills and got there at 8:20 p.m., so that was two hours almost."

Improving traffic times is a goal for the TDOT as officials continue to work on the 26-mile choice lanes project. The state agency hopes the project will improve traffic and help with future growth.

According to the TDOT, four lanes will remain free to use, but one lane will allow drivers to pay a fee to skip traffic. It's a $5 billion project, paid through a partnership with a private company that will bid for the project.

"Design, build, construct, maintain, operate and finance all of it," TDOT Public-Private Partnerships Communications Officer Rebekah Hammonds said. "We, the state, will always own the road because it's state property."

This project is still in its early stages, and the cost of using a choice lane hasn't been decided yet. TDOT officials believe it all revolves around the driver's time.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/tdot-seeks-public-input-for-proposed-i-24-choice-lanes-project/