After nearly a decade of waiting, Franklin residents will finally see progress on the newest extension of the Mack Hatcher Memorial Parkway.
The improvements will stretch from the existing intersection at Mack Hatcher and Hillsboro Road to the Westhaven neighborhood on Highway 96 West. The total cost of the 3.2-mile project will be about $46 million, according to officials from the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
"Merry Christmas, Franklin," Mayor Ken Moore said. "Santa has come. No one can remember how long this has been on Franklin's project list. We appreciate the opportunity to have this road."
The roadway will cross over the Harpeth River twice. Phase I will include the construction of the inside half of the entire roadway. With this project, there will be one travel lane in each direction. However, the intersections at Highway 96 West, Del Rio Pike and Hillsboro Road will be built in their entirety.
Phase II of the project hasn't been funded. That construction phase will add two travel lanes outside of the median.