The City of Murfreesboro will conduct a public meeting at Erma Siegel Elementary School, Tuesday, December 2, 2014, from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., to provide an opportunity for public comment on the proposed Cherry Lane Extension Project (Phase 3). Siegel Elementary School is located at 135 West Thompson Lane, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37129.

The 2.25 mile Cherry Lane Extension from Northwest Broad St. (U.S. 41/70) to Sulphur Springs Rd. would create an alternative route to Thompson Lane, providing traffic congestion relief on Thompson Lane and additionally provide for anticipated future growth. A new interchange would also be constructed on the Cherry Lane extension roadway at SR 840.

The Cherry Lane Extension would require a 1,000 foot (500 ft. from center line in both directions) environmental impact study of the proposed roadway. City officials and engineers will present three alternative alignments during the public meeting. The public will be given time to review the plans and provide public comment. In addition, public comment cards will be available for the public to provide written input on the proposed extension within a 21-day period.

The actual roadway will include a 100 feet Right of Way width, encompassing 5-12 foot lanes (including a center-turn lane), 4-foot bike lanes, 5-foot sidewalks, along with curb and gutters, and 2-foot grass strips. The interchange will include a two-span grade separation bridge for Cherry Lane over SR 840. It is also anticipated that a retaining wall will be necessary to protect existing residences from construction of the SR 840 westbound off ramp.

The Cherry Lane Extension is part of the City's 2025 Thoroughfare Plan. Phase I of this project was built near Siegel Park and completed in late 2005. Phase II, between Siegel Park and Sulphur Springs Rd., is currently under design. The project that is the subject of this public meeting is Phase III that runs from the end of the Phase II project at Sulphur Springs Rd. to NW Broad St. The completion of all three phases will ultimately connect Memorial Boulevard to NW Broad St. and provide an additional access to SR 840.