Mt. Juliet officials are progressing on a long-discussed project to widen a congested 1.2-mile stretch of Lebanon Road after securing $12 million in federal funds for right-of-way acquisition.
Driving on Lebanon Road often becomes a crawl between Park Glen Drive and Curd Road in Mt. Juliet.
The congestion goes both ways, heading east after North Mt. Juliet Road when Lebanon Road funnels from five lanes into two lanes just after Park Glen. Traffic coming from the westbound side where West Elementary is located, especially around school arrival and pickup times, is also heavily congested.
And stop-and-go periods are not limited to rush hour.
More than 21,800 vehicles per day pass through the section of Lebanon Road, according to 2025 traffic counts
by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Traffic counts are only growing with ongoing development to meet a rising population.
As a result, Mt. Juliet can move forward through $12 million in federal funding awarded for a right-of-way acquisition after efforts to include the Lebanon Road widening on the state's project list weren't successful, Mt. Juliet Mayor James Maness said. The city will have to provide a 20% match.
The Local Programs Agreement project mandates that Mt. Juliet is responsible for design and right-of-way, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
“We’ve got to do something over there,” City Commissioner Art Giles said about widening the approximate 1.2-mile section of Lebanon Road. “It’s a step in the correct direction. I’m excited that we have a plan, we’re following through with it and it’s going be done.”
Lebanon traffic construction's impact on business
There are also a number of businesses operating on Lebanon Road watching the accelerated pace of the project.
The amount of right-of-way acquisition that may be needed for the project could impact properties with structures close to the road.
“We are evaluating the situation," Wahlnut Woods co-owner Valerie Wahl said about being within the widening project parameters. "We would hope to get some kind of communication from the city sooner rather than later.”
The project still has engineering work needed with right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation before construction starts, which is estimated at 6-7 years away according to Mt. Juliet Public Works Director Matthew White.
"I expect some impact, but we won’t know the true impact until the design is completed in a couple of years," White said.
Construction itself on the road widening project is estimated at around 18 months, which puts completion estimates at around 7-8 years, White said.
“We knew something was going to happen, but we had no idea it would be this soon,” said Hunter Briley, owner of The Emeraude Bakery on Lebanon Road, just east of the Golden Bear Gateway and Benders Ferry Road intersection.
The Emeraude Bakery building is actually leased from the city.
“I feel confident in saying they will need to tear down the building or the road will go right to the front door, which won’t work for us either.” Briley said.
Briley is already exploring alternatives to potentially relocate.
Grade A Construction opened a new building on the north side of Lebanon Road in May 2025 and worked with the city before construction on what could be needed, co-owner Lance Lannom said.
Grade A Construction used the top floor and 615 Outdoor Living leases the bottom floor, Lannom said.
"We are excited about the project to bring some traffic relief and some new business opportunities to this side of town," Lannom said.
Will Benders Ferry road work help?
There is ongoing work to widen Benders Ferry Road up to the Benders Ferry/Golden Bear Gateway intersection at Lebanon Road between Park Glen and Curd roads. The work on Benders Ferry is being funded by development.
That project is expected to be finished in the fall. The intersection includes an existing traffic signal that could also be adjusted when the Benders Ferry work is finished, White said.
"The improvements that developers are constructing on Benders Ferry and Lebanon Road will help some, but the ultimate solution is to get the full widening completed as soon as possible to relieve traffic congestion in this area," White said.
City officials said they anticipate an additional $24 million in federal funding for the construction phase, White said. The grants through the Greater Nashville Regional Council and Transportation Policy Board are designed to cover about 80% of the costs with the city providing a 20% match.
Old Lebanon Dirt Road
Mt. Juliet has started construction on a two-mile widening of Old Lebanon Dirt Road between Moreland Drive and Chandler Road. Work will widen the portion of Old Lebanon Dirt Road from two to three lanes and correct some of the dangerous vertical and horizontal curves on the corridor.
Guardrails, rumble strips that help warn drivers when they veer outside the lane and raised reflective pavement markings are part of the project.
Work is expected to take about two years.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Congested Mt. Juliet road slated for traffic improvements
