Thompson Lane's widening project is set to move forward as the Murfreesboro City Council approved a significant budget for easement offers during their recent meeting. The project, which spans a four-mile stretch between Broad Street and Memorial Boulevard, requires the relocation of water and sewer mains, prompting the need for both permanent and temporary easements.

City officials outlined that the easement values are calculated based on tax assessor's estimates, with permanent easements valued at 50% of the land's worth and temporary easements at 20%. To encourage property owners to agree to the easements, a 10% bonus for voluntary conveyance is included in the offers. For smaller easements valued under a thousand dollars, a minimum offer of $1,000 has been established.

The total budget request for easement offers is set at $689,000, providing some flexibility for negotiations with property owners. If agreements cannot be reached, the city may resort to eminent domain, although this would require additional appraisals for the properties involved.

The council unanimously approved the motion, signaling a crucial step in the Thompson Lane project, which aims to enhance infrastructure and improve traffic flow in the area.