Staff details Port Royal/Buckner Lane redesign; project to be bid after July 1

Engineering staff presented right‑of‑way and construction plans for the Port Royal Road and Buckner Lane intersection, describing a realignment, a prefabricated bridge replacement and a five‑lane cross section with dedicated turn lanes intended to reduce backups.

Ms. Stall said the plan will shift the curve south and use a prefabricated bridge to reduce closure time. Staff indicated some private entrances will be modified—one replaced by a ride‑in/ride‑out, one closed—and that Buckner Lane north will remain open to serve Haines Crossing. The plan includes a dedicated left‑turn lane at the new signalized intersection.

Committee members asked where the project ends to the west; staff said it will stop around Somerset Springs with minimal right‑of‑way from Alaina Park. Staff said the design is nearly ready for bid but the board advised delaying advertisement until after July 1 for budget/timing reasons.

Members proposed design alternatives—such as a merged left‑turn lane or additional through lane for southbound Port Royal—to reduce stops, but staff said the corridor’s limited width and the need to coordinate with nearby signals at Lehi Lane and the Kroger intersection would push the project limits and costs substantially. Alderman Fuquay noted the alignment approaches an area Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation identifies as environmentally sensitive, which could affect permitting.

Staff will continue advancing plans and said they will return with further details and right‑of‑way confirmations at a future meeting.