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TDOT will simplify Dayton Boulevard lanes, add buffered bike lanes; Red Bank to supplement north of signal
Summary
Tennessee Department of Transportation plans to reconfigure Dayton Boulevard near the Stringer’s Ridge Tunnel starting July 20, 2025, reducing travel lanes and adding buffered bike lanes to address a high-frequency crash location; the City of Red Bank will perform complementary work north of the traffic signal.
TDOT will begin work July 20, 2025, to reconfigure a section of Dayton Boulevard at the south end of Red Bank, reducing variable four-lane stretches to a consistent two travel lanes with a center queuing/turn lane and adding buffered, exclusive bike lanes, City of Red Bank planner Michael said.
The change is intended to reduce hazardous lane‑swapping and speed differentials where the road expands and narrows around the Stringer’s Ridge Tunnel, an area Michael described as “one of the higher frequency collision locations in the city.”
Michael, a planner in City Hall who narrated a site video, said the existing geometry forces drivers coming off Ashmore or the frontage road to navigate four lanes almost immediately after exiting the tunnel. “Of course, we want moderate speeds, but because we have these two other lanes, we see a lot of vehicles that are speeding up to pass each other,” he said. He showed video of children riding bikes along Dayton and said the planned design includes a buffered, exclusive bike lane on each side so “you’re not coming within inches of other users.”
In the current configuration, Michael said, the roadway alternates between two lanes, four lanes, then a complex three‑and‑a‑half lane merge near the U.S. 27 off‑ramp and City Green, producing frequent lane changes in a short distance. He described a past crash in which a vehicle left the roadway and fell about an eight‑foot drop onto county property off Ashmore.
Under the plan Michael described, motorists would see one travel lane in each direction with a central queuing/turn lane available for left turns and short queuing maneuvers, and buffered bike lanes on both sides. He said the simplified geometry will reduce opportunities for drivers to accelerate around one another to reach the tunnel or the 27 off‑ramp.
Michael also noted jurisdictional limits: TDOT’s work ends at the traffic signal at the north side of the intersection, and the City of Red Bank will “perform a project on the north side of the intersection to supplement the state route changes.” He urged residents to expect road signs and lane closures once work begins. “TDOT has scheduled this work to start on 07/20/2025,” he said. He closed the video asking people to “be on the lookout for road signs, lane closures. Definitely drive safe, bike safe, walk safe.”
No formal vote or policy action was recorded in the presentation; the video was a site tour and explanation of planned construction and local coordination with TDOT. The transcript did not specify funding sources, contract awards, or permit conditions for the work.
Background: Michael provided brief community context, noting the area historically was called Vaudot and pointing to local landmarks such as a former Dairy Gold ice cream parlor and recent small businesses. He said the city has done community engagement over the past two years and that residents expressed interest in activating this part of Red Bank.
