COLUMBIA — The City of Columbia announced this week that a major overhaul of State Route 99 (Bear Creek Pike) has been included in the Tennessee Department of Transportation's 10-Year Project Plan through the Statewide Partnership Program.
The state has committed up to $180 million toward the project, which will extend from Nashville Highway (SR-6/US-31) to Interstate 65. Construction is anticipated in 2037. Columbia will contribute $1 million annually over a decade—totaling $10 million—to support the effort. City Manager Tony Massey called the inclusion "a proud day for Columbia," noting that widening Bear Creek Pike has been a strategic planning goal for years.
Mayor Chaz Molder emphasized the project reflects "a long-term, thoughtful approach to addressing real transportation needs in our community, and we remain focused on improving safety and daily quality of life while preserving what makes Columbia special." Ward 5 Council Member Brian McKelvy added that the improvement addresses constituent concerns about safer travel along a corridor many residents depend on daily. TDOT will lead project delivery in coordination with the City.