NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
21st Avenue in Hillsboro Village is one of the busiest streets in Metro. About 26,000 cars pass through 21st Avenue to get to Vanderbilt Medical Center, 440 or for shopping and dining.
For years, Metro Public Works has conducted studies to find ways to ease the congestion and gridlock along 21st Avenue. Acklen, which runs off 21st, may be a first start in the process. Metro engineers want to punch through the dead end on Acklen to connect with Magnolia.
Once the project is completed, drivers would be able to turn off 21st Avenue onto Magnolia, making it easier to get in and out of the village.
Metro council member Burkley Allen, who represents the 18th district, says drivers will be able to enter and exit Acklen on right turns only. She told Channel 4 News that Metro conducted extensive traffic studies on the issue.
"Studies have indicated it would reduce congestion and ease traffic flow," said Allen.
Business owners and residents who live in high rises along Acklen feel Metro Public Works is solving one problem and creating another.
"It will be much noisier, it will take out 10 big beautiful mature trees, it will take away a lot of parking and it will just make a fundamental change, that will overall, will be negative," said Jeane Martin, a resident of Acklen Avenue.
Metro Public Works will conduct public hearings to get more input on the project. If approved by Metro Council, the project could get under way in about a year.
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