Nashville International Airport and the Tennessee Department of Transportation are gearing up to debut a new “diverging diamond” interchange aimed at easing congestion in the heavily-frequented area around BNA. But traffic may worsen before it gets better.
In order to complete the interchange, TDOT has to close several lanes and reroute vehicles around the construction areas.
“This work is necessary to mill and pave the interstate as part of TDOT’s Interstate 40 interchange at Donelson Pike,” TDOT said in a statement. “While these closures will occur during off-peak hours, motorists are strongly encouraged to leave early to arrive at their destination on time.”
Here’s a guide to the closures, which begin on Aug. 11, and will last at least through the end of the month.
An aerial view of the new alignment of I-40 and Donelson Pike by Nashville International Airport.
Nightly triple-lane closures on I-40 start at 8 p.m.
From 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. every night starting Aug. 11, construction crews will shut down three lanes of traffic on I-40 in both directions near Exit 216 by the airport.
TDOT officials said they expect the closures to continue for the next two to three weeks.
This is the latest in a series of closures and shifts for the sake of the new Donelson Pike interchange. Construction on the project began back in 2022, and the projected completion timeline is set for August 2027. However, the Metro Nashville Airport Authority Board agreed to pay up to $6 million in incentives to the contractor if the project is completed ahead of schedule.
The board and TDOT leadership both said they support the acceleration of construction because “the interchange has continued to be a trouble spot for locals and tourists alike.”
The old Donelson Pike bridge is currently closed as it’s being destroyed and replaced by a new parking garage at Nashville International Airport in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024.
Two short-term ramp detours go into effect
Two less impactful, but still significant closures will also take place this week.
Exit 216A off of I-40 eastbound will close down entirely from midnight to 3 a.m. on Aug. 12 and 13. During this closure, drivers will be detoured to Exit 216B.
Then, on Aug. 14 and 15 from midnight to 3 a.m., Exit 216B off of I-40 will be closed. Cars will be directed to utilize Exit 216A instead at that time.
Why is the new Donelson Pike interchange being built?
TDOT and the Nashville airport partnered on the project in order to increase capacity on the roads feeding into BNA, improve safety and reduce time stuck in traffic for drivers. In all, it includes relocating the interchange at Exit 216 and replacing it with the diverging diamond for a total cost of $135.9 million
“As Nashville and the state of Tennessee continue to grow, we need to explore more creative ways to deliver outstanding service to the traveling public,” MNAA CEO and President Doug Kreulen previously said of the project.
The current Donelson Pike interchange was built in the 1980s when BNA and its traffic demands were a fraction of what they are now. Over the last decade, the airport has more than doubled its annual passenger numbers, from 11.7 million in 2015 to tracking to surpass 25 million in 2025.
Hadley Hitson covers business news for The Tennessean. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work, subscribe to The Tennessean.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: New I-40 lane, ramp closures start near Nashville airport.