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A major infrastructure upgrade is underway on East McEwen Drive in Franklin. This project addresses longstanding safety concerns and traffic issues on one of the city’s most heavily used and outdated corridors.

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Project Overview

The East McEwen Drive improvement project involves expanding the roadway to four lanes and adding a 12-foot multimodal path to better accommodate vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. The road currently features sharp curves, narrow shoulders, and steep drop offs, making it unsafe, especially given the volume of daily traffic including school buses and commuters.

Current Activity

Construction has entered its initial phase, which includes tree clearing to allow for utility relocation and road expansion. While tree removal is always a difficult part of development, it is necessary for installing underground utilities and preparing the site for grading and paving. A temporary fence is being installed for properties closest to the construction zone and plans are in place to reestablish the tree line once the project is further along.

Scope and Funding

This is the most complex and costly road project in Franklin’s history with a total budget of approximately 47 million dollars. Over 30 million dollars in federal grant funding has been secured to support the effort. The terrain and existing development make construction particularly challenging but the long-term benefits in safety and efficiency justify the scale of the investment.

What to Expect

Over the next month to six weeks, construction activity will remain intense with noticeable impacts to traffic flow and nearby properties. After this phase, delays are expected to decrease as utility and grading work progresses. Drivers are strongly encouraged to seek alternate routes, particularly between Wilson Pike and Oxford Glen or Cool Springs to avoid congestion.

Long-Term Benefits

Once complete, the improved East McEwen Drive will provide safer travel conditions, reduced congestion, and improved connectivity across this growing area. The new infrastructure is designed to meet the needs of the community for decades, supporting both current demands and future growth.