Brentwood Battles Congestion With Stoplight Study

BRENTWOOD, TN — Traffic woes in Brentwood may be eased after an eight-month, $216,000, four-road, 31-intersection study authorized by the City Commission Monday.

The commission voted to use grant money from the Metropolitan Planning Organization and the state Department of Transportation to engage consultancy Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to perform a traffic signal study that will focus on 31 crucial intersections of Concord Road, Moores Lane, Wilson Pike and Murray Lane.

After conducting traffic counts, Kimley-Horn will first assess whether the city's signals meet state and federal standards and then determine if the intersections could be improved by adding additional turn lanes, sidewalks or cross walks, company Vice President Chris Rhodes told The Tennessean.

Brentwood was part of a broader study conducted by Metro Nashville which synchronized 35 signals on Old Hickory Boulevard, Franklin Road, Maryland Way and Church Street. The latest study will focus on four roads solely within Brentwood's city limits.

Once traffic counts are completed at various times of day, the city will be able to update their timing to optimize traffic flow. The city also plans to create so-called "flush plans" for out-of-the-ordinary traffic situations, such as an interstate blockage that drives people off the interstate and on to secondary roads.

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