South end: SR 265 in Lebanon, TN Length 60.4 km | North end: US 31W in Portland, TN | |
Major cities Gallatin, Lebanon, Portland, Mitchellville Counties Wilson County, Tennessee, Sumner County, Tennessee | ||
State Route 109 (abbreviated SR 109) is a primary state highway in Wilson County and Sumner County, Tennessee. It runs from the intersection of SR 265 and I-840 (Exit 72) near Lebanon, north through Gallatin to the Kentucky state line and US 31W.
Contents
Map of TN-109, Tennessee, USA
SR 109 is mentioned in several country music songs including "Church on the Cumberland Road" by Shenandoah and "Goodbye Earl" by the Dixie Chicks. The first Cracker Barrel Restaurant was opened by Dan Evins at the corner of I-40 and SR 109 in Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1969.
History
SR 109 originally ended at its interchange with U. S. Highway 70, but was extended Southward to connect with Interstate 40 in 1968 and in the early 2000s to connect with Tennessee State Routes 265/840. The highway is a four lane divided highway from I-840/SR 265 to Interstate 40 where it becomes a four lane non-divided highway to U. S. Highway 70. It then becomes a two-lane highway until it intersects with Airport Road and South Water Ave. in Gallatin. At that point, SR 109 becomes a four lane divided highway once again and continues as a four lane divided highway to just south of the intersection of SR 109 and SR 76 in Portland. The highway continues as a 4 lane, non-divided highway to 2 miles north of downtown Portland where it becomes 2 lanes to US Highway 31-W.
A new interchange was constructed in the mid-2000s with US 70, allowing for the free flow of traffic on US 70 with traffic signals controlling the exits onto SR 109. Prior to the reconstruction, US 70 eastbound traversed a long down-sloping hill to the at-grade intersection, which was a four-way stop until the early 2000s, before being converted to one using a standard traffic signal.
A bypass of downtown Gallatin was constructed in the 1990s, allowing traffic to divert around the city proper to the West. Control of the former 109 through town reverted to the city. In 2010, a newly-constructed four-lane divided section of the highway opened between Gallatin and Portland to replace the original narrow, curvy two-lane portion through the Highland Rim.
A four lane bridge over the Cumberland River replaced the old two-lane bridge that was constructed in the 1950s and demolished in 2014.
Future
SR 109 is slated to be widened to a four-lane highway, with a middle 12' turn lane from Gallatin to I-40 in Lebanon, primarily for the increased level of traffic from the industrial park just off the Interstate. Plans are also underway for SR 109 to bypass downtown Portland and intersect with I-65. This project would extend SR 109 across US 31W to intersect with the interstate just south of the Tennessee-Kentucky border near Lake Springs Road in Robertson County. This project is currently in the construction phase.