Mack Hatcher extension

The Tennessean is reporting "Decision made on Mack Hatcher extension" that won't likely begin construction until 2008. This "Alternate G" loop is only 7.5 miles long, but it'll be a 4 lane road with a median at a cost of $52.8 million.

According to the reader who sent me the link it means Del Rio is really getting hit hard, which could be a huge change for all Williamson County riders. If you visit the news link above there's also a PDF map of the proposed route. I am having a hard time placing our usual training roads within that map because I don't know the city of Franklin well enough from the sky to make sense of it.

However, just knowing where Mack Hatcher is now and seeing how they want to connect things it doesn't look good for us. It's like Mack Hatcher will be to Franklin what Briley Parkway is to Nashville. Am I wrong with that analogy?

I hope I'm wrong, but my gut tells me we'll have to either put up with more traffic or find another route. Cyclists are losing their ground to the greater "good" of TDOT.