A study was completed in 2016 for the future widening and extension of Buckner Road. The long-term vision for this area is to create a gateway corridor into the northern end of the City via an envisioned I-65 interchange that would connect into an extended Buckner Road, the full length of which would be widened to five lanes (two travel lanes and a center turn lane). Within this vision, Buckner Lane also would be widened to multiple lanes. The Buckner Road widening project is currently estimated at $, and the Buckner Lane widening at $13.9 million.

In the meantime, the City in February 2018 received conceptual approval from the Federal Highway Administration to build an I-65 interchange that will connect into an extension of Buckner Road.

The future development of the massive, 775-acre mixed-use project proposed by Southeast Ventures for the Alexander Farm property bordering I-65 and Buckner Road also has hinged on approval of the interchange. The traffic impacts from that project -- which will include large office space, commercial retail, a wide range of residential units, and park space -- helped warrant the need for an I-65 interchange at Buckner.

In June 2017, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) passed the 2017-18 budget, which included $500,000 in capital improvement funds for the design of the Buckner Road project. The City will be holding more public meetings about this project in 2018.