Tennessee State Route 397

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State Route 397 marker
State Route 397
Mack Hatcher Memorial Parkway
Route information
Maintained by TDOT
Length10.6 mi (17.1 km)
Major junctions
South end US 31
Major intersections
North end US 431
Location
CountiesWilliamson
Highway system
← SR 396→ SR 399

State Route 397 (SR 397), also known as the Mack Hatcher Memorial Parkway, is a primary state route that serves as the perimeter road for the city of Franklin, Tennessee. Throughout its length, SR 397 also carries the designations of U.S. Route 31 Truck (US 31 Truck) and U.S. Route 431 Truck (US 431 Truck).

Route description[]

SR 397 begins as a two-lane highway south of Franklin at an intersection with US 31 / SR 6 (Columbia Avenue), where it picks up US 31 Truck. It heads east to cross over some railroad tracks before passing through subdivisions and coming to an intersection with US 431 / SR 106 (Lewisburg Pike), where it picks up US 431 Truck. The highway then crosses the Harpeth River to turn north and pass through more wooded areas before having an intersection with SR 96 (Murfreesboro Road), where it widens to 4-lane divided highway. SR 397 passes by more subdivisions before curving to the west and passing through more rural areas to have another intersection with US 31/SR 6 (Franklin Road), where US 31 Truck ends. It continues west to cross the Harpeth River for a second time before coming to an intersection with US 431/SR 106 (Hillsboro Road). It then continues westward, crossing the Harpeth River for a third and fourth time in short succession, and shifts south before coming to an end at an intersection with SR 96 west of downtown.[1][2]

History[]

A bypass to divert through traffic around downtown Franklin was first proposed in 1963.[3] Work on the first section, located between US 31 (Columbia Pike) and SR 96 (Murfreesboro Road) in July 1983, and was completed in December 1985. The bypass was named the Mack Hatcher Memorial Parkway by an act of the Williamson County Commission on November 21, 1983, in honor of a former county commissioner and road superintendent.[4] Construction on the next section, between SR 96 and US 31 (Franklin Road) began in March 1987, and was opened to traffic on November 17, 1988.[5] The third section, between US 31 (Franklin Road) and US 431 (Hillsboro Road) was completed in November 1989.[6]

On December 2, 2005, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced that the preferred alignment for the Mack Hatcher Parkway Western Extension would be Alternate G. This route, 7.5 miles (12.1 km) long, begins at US 31/SR 6 south of Franklin (Columbia Highway) and ends at US 431/SR 106 north of Franklin (Hillsboro Road). It goes around the west side of Franklin.[7] The Western Extension will create a complete perimeter around Franklin, divert through traffic from the city, and provide easy access to other nearby routes.[8] Work began on the first segment of the extension, a length of 3.2 miles (5.1 km) between SR 96 and US 431 (Hillsboro Road), on December 18, 2018,[9] and was opened to traffic on November 29, 2021.[10] A dedication ceremony for the section occurred on December 13, 2021, which included the naming of one of the Harpeth River bridges in memory of former state representative Charles Sargent.[11]

Major intersections[]

The entire route is in Franklin, Williamson County.

mikmDestinationsNotes
0.00.0 US 31 (Columbia Highway/SR 6) – Franklin, Spring Hill


 US 31 Truck begins		Southern terminus of SR 397 and US 31 Truck
1.82.9 US 431 (Lewisburg Pike/SR 106) – Franklin, Lewisburg


 US 431 Truck begins		Southern terminus of US 431 Truck
2.03.2 over the Harpeth River
3.25.1 SR 96 (Murfreesboro Road) – Franklin, Murfreesboro
5.79.2 US 31 (Franklin Road/SR 6) – Franklin, Brentwood


 US 31 Truck ends		Northern terminus of US 31 Truck
6.810.9 over the Harpeth River
7.411.9 US 431 (Hillsboro Road/SR 106) – Franklin, Forest Hills


 US 431 Truck ends		Northern terminus of US 431 Truck
10.617.1 SR 96 (New Highway 96) – Franklin, FairviewCurrent northern/western terminus
SR 246 (Carters Creek Pike) – Franklin, BurwoodPart of the proposed Western Extension
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References[]

  1. ^ TDOT. "Franklin city map" (PDF). www.tn.gov. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  2. ^ Tennessee Atlas & Gazetteer (Map) (2004 ed.). DeLorme.
  3. ^ "Late-1982 Start Seen For Franklin's Bypass". The Tennessean. Nashville. March 11, 1980. pp. 1-A, 5-A. Retrieved December 23, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Around the Region". The Tennessean. Nashville. November 22, 1983. p. 7-B. Retrieved December 23, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Franklin bypass sector opens". The Tennessean. Nashville. November 17, 1988. p. 2-B. Retrieved December 23, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "3rd leg of Hatcher Parkway to open". The Tennessean. Nashville. November 1, 1989. p. 2-B. Retrieved December 23, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "State Route 397 (Mack Hatcher Parkway) Extension". tn.gov/tdot. Tennessee Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  8. ^ "State Route 397 - Tennessee Department of Transportation". Tennessee Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on August 12, 2008. Retrieved June 3, 2008.
  9. ^ Burch, Edward (December 18, 2018). "State breaks ground on Mack Hatcher Parkway extension". WSMV-TV. Nashville. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  10. ^ Bomar, Coleman (November 29, 2021). "Mack Hatcher northwest extension opens". Williamson Herald. Franklin, Tennessee. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  11. ^ McBryde, John (December 13, 2021). "Ribbon cutting gives official nod to Mack Hatcher extension, includes dedication of bridge to Sargent". Williamson Home Page. Brentwood, Tennessee. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
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