TDOT approves Highway 31 widening in Spring Hill as part of 10-year plan

Jay Powell, Columbia Daily Herald
·2 min read
The long-awaited widening of U.S. Highway 31 in Spring Hill has been included in TDOT's latest 10-year plan for roadway improvements, which is estimated to invest $15 billion for future Tennessee highway projects.
The long-awaited widening of U.S. Highway 31 in Spring Hill has been included in TDOT's latest 10-year plan for roadway improvements, which is estimated to invest $15 billion for future Tennessee highway projects.

A long-awaited roadway project could be making headway with the widening of State Route 6, or more commonly known as U.S. Highway 31, in Spring Hill.

In December, the Tennessee Department of Transportation announced its first fiscally constrained 10-year plan for road projects, two of which were candidates in Maury County.

The first was the widening and upgrades to Bear Creek Pike in Columbia, which was not included in the list. However, the proposed Highway 31 widening project in Spring Hill did receive approval.

More: TDOT 10-year grant program to not include Bear Creek Pike widening project

According to the Dec. 18 TDOT report, the 10-year plan seeks to provide $15 billion in state and federal funds to surface transportation development. In addition to the 10-year plan, TDOT programs nearly $600 million in federal and state funds annually.

Butch Eley
Butch Eley

The Highway 31 project has been on the books for many years. In 2019, the project was included as part of TDOT's three-year plan, but funding was later removed.

Now, the project is set to take shape by the end of the decade, according to the report.

"This commitment by TDOT is a major win for the residents of Spring Hill and wouldn't have become reality without the dedicated work of the BOMA and City employees," said Spring Hill Mayor Jim Hagaman. "The widening of Highway 31 has been a priority for our city for years, and we are delighted to finally have this project scheduled and funded."

The project, according to the 10-year plan, will be divided across two concurrent projects.

The southern portion of the project will include preliminary engineering work scheduled to begin in 2028, with right-of-way acquisition starting in 2030.

Engineering for the northern portion will likely begin in 2030, with right-of-way acquisition starting in 2032. Construction is estimated to begin in 2033.

The Highway 31 project's total cost is estimated at $299.8 million.

"As mentioned in the 10-Year Project Plan, TDOT will be working with local communities to further describe the needs of the projects featured. As more information about this project becomes available, the City of Spring Hill will provide updates," the report states.

Butch Eley, TDOT's Deputy Governor and Commissioner, said the state's 10-year plan "will be able to serve Tennessee with greater accountability and communication. The 10 Year Project Plan also supports jobs for Tennesseans and creates a long-term view, helping the industry develop and train the workforce needed to get the jobs done."

The plan provides a roadmap for $15 billion in state and federal funds over the next decade for surface transportation development. However, the outstanding need, in current dollars, is over $30 billion, the plan states.

Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: TDOT approves Highway 31 widening in Spring Hill for new 10-year plan