Brinkley Road Phase I improvements near Blackman High School slated for 2022

The Murfreesboro City Council voted Thursday (Feb. 3) to approve a $3.8 million construction contract with Bell Construction along with engineering services and testing of construction materials for improvements to Brinkley Road Phase 1. The stretch of road is being upgraded as part of the $11 million widening of Brinkley Road to three lanes, including a bridge over Overall Creek to improve pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

“Roads and bridges continue to be our top funding priority for capital projects,” said Mayor Shane McFarland. “The bridge to be constructed on Brinkley will provide a way for students and all pedestrians and cyclists to cross Brinkley in a safe manner.”

Council approved the construction contract with Bell Construction for $3,839,997 and authorized Energy Land & Infrastructure, LLC to perform administration of the large construction project. Professional services for Phase I are estimated at $129,880. Council also approved TTL Inc. to perform material testing services (concrete) for Phase I estimated at $23,000. These costs are included within the larger budget funding for the project in the FY16, FY21 and FY22 CIP Budgets.

Phase 1 includes the bridge over Overall Creek and entrances to Berkshire Subdivision and Blaze Drive. Phase 2 for the remainder of the project will come later.

“I’m pleased to see the Brinkley Road project come together,” said Councilman Kirt Wade. “I have worked with Chris Griffith to make sure we could provide a safe avenue for our kids to cross Brinkley Road to Blaze Drive. This bridge will provide an avenue for kids to get to school safely.”

“We are more than eager to get started on Phase I of this critical improvement project that has been delayed due to the economy and ROW acquisition,” said Executive Director of Public Infrastructure Chris Griffith. “Brinkley Road is a busy crossroad from Hwy 96 to Manson Pike and getting busier with the expanding growth of the Blackman area.”

The city conducted a public informational meeting in 2017 to provide an opportunity for the public to review plans on the proposed Brinkley Road Improvement Project. Property owners, residents and interested parties attended the informational meeting to provide input.

City engineers responded to neighborhood concerns about the condition of Blaze Drive near Brinkley and pushed up the timetable for the stretch of road to the high school. A $1.2 million improvement to a section of Blaze Drive between Brinkley Road and Blackman High School was completed in 2017 prior to the school year. Rollins Excavating and Hoover Paving widened Blaze to three lanes and added multi-use paths, curb and gutter and sidewalks for the more than 3,000 Blackman High School and Blackman Middle School students who attend classes on the city’s West side.

The larger Brinkley Road Improvement Project was first approved for design by the City Council in 2007 and then amended in 2016 to widen the roadway between Franklin Road (SR 96) to Manson Pike. The improvement will include a continuous center turn lane, pedestrian and pike paths and a new bridge over Overall Creek to improve walking and biking from neighborhood subdivisions to Blackman schools. Students and pedestrians will be able to walk under the bridge to gain access to and from school.

To review plans of the Brinkley Road Improvement Project, the public is encouraged to contact Public Infrastructure Executive Director Chris Griffith at cgriffith@murfreesborotn.gov or by calling (615) 893-6441.

A big thank you goes out to River City Equipment Rental & Sales for sponsoring our construction update videos. They’re located at 211 Threet Industrial Rd in Smyrna and can be contacted at 615-223-0555.