(The Center Square) – Tennessee’s first toll lanes should begin as soon as 2026 on Interstate 24 between downtown Nashville and Murfreesboro, the Tennessee Department of Transportation said.
The I-24 corridor in Chattanooga and the I-40 and I-75 corridor in Knoxville were also identified as potential toll lanes when the process begins.
The lanes are expected to have a 50 mile per hour guaranteed speed and dynamic pricing, meaning the price will depend on congestion in the lanes and on the entire roadway. The toll lanes will likely be separated by concrete barriers.
TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley would not estimate the lane costs during rush hour but said that it will be in line with other states that have toll lanes and that “safeguards” and “oversight” will be part of the process.
“That’s the first project that makes economic sense,” Eley said about I-24 in Nashville.
TDOT also has identified a map of construction projects over the next 10 years throughout the state to spend the $3.3 billion in funding from the state that went to the department this year, ensuring that at least $750 million is spent in each of Tennessee’s grand divisions.
TDOT called it a $15 billion plan including the $3.3 billion one-time funding and $1.2 billion in annual funding over a 10-year span.
TDOT identified 93 projects, with 46 fully funded out of the $3.3 billion fund.
The department is combining those funds with its regular project funding to ensure that 89% of that funding will be spent in the next five year to maximize the time value of money and spend the funds in a timely manner.
