NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - State Widens Road Where 600 Accidents Happened In 2 Years

State Widens Road Where 600 Accidents Happened In 2 Years

GALLATIN, Tenn. - A Midstate road with a deadly reputation is getting a makeover.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation is widening Highway 109 in Sumner County.

Workers are doing the prep work on Highway 109 between the Gallatin Bypass and Hollis Chapel Road.

The past three months crews have been blasting rock and leveling the grade of what will be the new four-lane highway.

TDOT reports more than 600 accidents happened on the road between 2003 and 2005; 10 of those crashes were fatal.

The improved road will feature fewer curves and hills.

The grading part of the project is expected to be completed by December 2008. Shortly afterwards, the paving work will begin.

The widening project will cost around $18 million.

TDOT officials said there are several other 109 improvement projects planned in Sumner and Wilson counties over the next several years.