Nashville, TN – Work continues to progress on a project to widen Interstate 65 in Williamson County. This weekend, contract crews will close lanes as they begin work to shift northbound traffic to the newly constructed inside lanes.  This will be similar to the southbound traffic shift which occurred two weekends ago.

The lane closures are as follows:

• Thursday March 29, 8:00 p.m. through 5:00 a.m. Friday March 30- There will be alternating lane closures on I-65 North for paving operations. One lane will remain open.
• Friday March 30, 8:00 p.m. through 12 noon Saturday March 31 - There will be alternating lane closures on I-65 North for paving operations. One lane will remain open.

* All work is weather dependent. (In the event of rain on Friday night, work will be moved to Saturday March 31, 8 p.m. through Sunday April 1, 12 Noon).

During this weekend’s lane closures, workers will pave and move the concrete barrier rail to the outside lanes. Once the traffic shift is in place, crews will begin constructing the new outside travel lanes and the bridge over the Harpeth River.

This work is part of a $27.7 million widening project that will add two additional travel lanes on I-65 from Peytonsville Road to SR 96 in Franklin.  The project also includes the widening of the bridges over the Harpeth River, and the construction of three retaining walls and four noise walls.  The entire project is expected to be complete by November 2012.

TDOT will use portable message boards to alert motorists of the lane closures and traffic shift. Motorists are advised to plan ahead and expect delays. TDOT asks drivers to use caution, reduce their speed and be alert to changing traffic conditions in work zones across the state.

For more information on TDOT construction project activity visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/.  Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information or can follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel information or www.twitter.com/Nashville511 for traffic information in the Nashville area.  Motorists are reminded to use all motorist information tools responsibly.  Drivers should refrain from texting, tweeting or using a mobile phone while operating a vehicle.  TDOT advises drivers to “Know before you go!” by checking traffic conditions before leaving for their destination.

Nashville, TN – Work continues to progress on a project to widen Interstate 65 in Williamson County. This weekend, contract crews will begin work to shift southbound traffic to the newly constructed inside lanes.

Beginning at 8:00 p.m. tonight through 12:00 noon on Saturday March 17, there will be alternating lane closures on I-65 South for paving operations. One lane will remain open.

During this weekend’s lane closures, workers will pave and move the concrete barrier rail to the outside lanes. Once the traffic shift is in place, crews will begin constructing noise and retaining walls, as well as the new outside travel lanes. All work is weather dependent.

This work is part of a $27.7 million widening project that will add two additional travel lanes on I-65 from Peytonsville Road to SR 96 in Franklin.  The project also includes the widening of the bridges over the Harpeth River, and the construction of three retaining walls and four noise walls.  The entire project is expected to be complete by November 2012.

TDOT will use its overhead Dynamic Message Signs and portable message boards to alert motorists of the lane closures and traffic shift. Motorists are advised to plan ahead and expect delays. TDOT asks drivers to use caution, reduce their speed and be alert to changing traffic conditions in work zones across the state.

For more information on TDOT construction project activity visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/.  Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information or can follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel information or www.twitter.com/Nashville511 for traffic information in the Nashville area.  Motorists are reminded to use all motorist information tools responsibly.  Drivers should refrain from texting, tweeting or using a mobile phone while operating a vehicle.  TDOT advises drivers to “Know before you go!” by checking traffic conditions before leaving for their destination.

Mike Binkley tallied more than 50 percent of the vote to win the Republican nomination for Circuit Court judge in the only local contested race Williamson County Tuesday.

Binkley's win assures him the position as he is unchallenged in the general election in August.

Milt Romney won Williamson County in the GOP presidential primary but lost to Rick Santorum in Tennessee on Super Tuesday.

Romney collected 9,592 votes, or 35.5 percent, to Santorum's 8.723 (32.3 percent). Newt Gingrich had 6,127 (22.9%) and Ron Paul 2,185 (8%).

Binkley, backed by TV endorsements from sports figures Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Fisher, racked up 12,506 votes, representing 52.36 percent. Incumbent Derek Smith had 7,592 (31.8%) and Judy Oxford 3,751 (15.7%).

The Circuit Court seat, for Division II for the 21st Judicial District, became open by the appointment of Judge Jeff Bivins to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Middle Section.

Tennessee Gov.  Bill Haslam appointed then Deputy District Attorney Smith to the vacancy.

Brad Coleman was the uncontested winner of the county assessor of property race, and eventual election to office as he is also unchallenged in the general election.

"Super Tuesday" arrives tomorrow as Williamson County voters join voters from 10 states at the polls. In addition to the presidential pirmary, county voters can also participate in the Williamson County Republican Primary for two local offices.

Voters from 10 states, representing 419 delegates, will vote tomorrow in what has been dubbed "Super Tuesday," generally a misnomer most years but applicable this year due to the still undecided GOP race.

In addition to the presidential primary, Williamson County voters will also vote for Circuit Court judge and assessor of property for Williamson County.

Polls will be open at all county precincts from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voters are reminded of the new state law requiring photo identification. An official state or federal ID with photo is required.

Taylor Jackson series author J.T. Ellison (@Thrillerchick)  will talk about her books, including the latest that starts a new series, Saturday 2-3 p.m. at the main branch of the Williamson County Public Library.

Ellison is the international award-winning author of seven critically acclaimed novels and multiple short stories and has been published in more than 20 countries.

A former White House staffer, she has worked extensively with the Metro Nashville Police, the FBI and various other law enforcement organizations to research her novels. These are set mostly in Nashville, where she lives with her husband and a "poorly trained" cat.

During her talk at the Library she will discuss her latest Taylor Jackson novel, Where All the Dead Lie, and her newest book, A Deeper Darkness, which will be released in April. A departure from her Taylor Jackson series, the new book is the first in a series featuring Taylor's friend medical examiner Dr. Samantha Owens.

Burglars are stealing jewelry, gold, electronics and guns during the day from homes in the southwestern part of Rutherford County and in nearby Williamson County, sheriff’s detectives said.

Property was stolen during the past few weeks from eight homes located on John Windrow Road, Coleman Hill Road, Rehoboth Road, state Route 96 West (Franklin Road), Patterson Road, Swamp Road, Shoemaker Road and Panther Creek Road between Franklin Road and U.S. Highway 41 South near Eagleville. All the homes were located near the road.

Sheriff’s Detective Richard Brinkley stopped by homes and businesses in the area Friday asking people for information about the suspects.

“We’re trying to get people to be more aware and more observant,” Brinkley said.

Homeowners can help protect their homes by keeping the doors locked and making it appear someone is at home during the day.

Citizens can help by calling 911 if they see someone kicking in the door of a home or carrying out property. Do not approach the suspects. Citizens are asked to call the sheriff’s office at 898-7770 if they see suspicious activity at a home. They are asked to obtain a description of the suspects and a vehicle and a license plate number if possible.

People who have information about the suspects are asked to call Brinkley at 904-3045, Detective Troy Hooker at 904-3050, Detective Steve Brown at 904-3052 or Detective Sgt. Jerremy Weaver at 904-3046.