Major Weekend I-40 Lane Closures Begin Tonight; I-24 Mid-Day Delays Expected

Morning Commute and General Conditions

For Nashville commuters starting their Friday, February 20, 2026, the morning drive is expected to follow typical congestion patterns with a few notable exceptions due to ongoing infrastructure projects. While major arteries like I-65 and I-40 are seeing heavy volume through the downtown loop, the most significant disruptions for today will occur during the mid-day hours and the start of the weekend construction window this evening.

Major Interstate Alerts and Roadworks

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has announced several high-impact projects for today. Motorists should pay close attention to the following interstate schedules:

• I-40 Bridge Repair: Starting tonight at 8:00 p.m., a major bridge repair project will begin in Davidson County. Expect multiple westbound lane closures and a single eastbound lane closure near Exit 221A. Most importantly, the ramp at Exit 221A will be fully closed. These restrictions will remain in place continuously through Monday morning, so late-shift workers and weekend travelers should plan for significant delays or seek alternate routes.
• I-24 Westbound Milling and Paving: Between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. today, crews will be performing milling and paving operations on I-24 Westbound between Mile Markers 63 and 68. This mid-day work will result in multiple lane closures, likely causing backups for those traveling toward the city from the Antioch area.
• I-65 Widening: Nightly construction continues on I-65 between Rivergate Parkway and US 31W. While lanes are generally open during the peak morning hours, expect lane shifts and reduced speed limits near Mile Markers 95-99. Nightly closures in this zone will resume at 8:00 p.m.

Local Arteries and Surface Street Closures

Commuters utilizing surface streets to bypass interstate traffic should be aware of several ongoing long-term projects:

• Woodland Street Bridge: Phase 2 of the bridge repair project is currently active. Traffic control measures are in place, and while the bridge remains open, lanes are restricted.
• Nolensville Pike (SR 11): The continuous closure of Bradford Hills Drive remains in effect and is slated to last until April 2026. This utility and grading project continues to impact local access and through-traffic in the southern part of the county.
• Arthur Avenue: Ongoing construction between Garfield Street and Jane Street continues to require a specialized traffic control plan. Weather permitting, utility relocation and drainage work will be active today between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Public Transit and WeGo Updates

WeGo Public Transit is operating on its winter service schedule which went into effect earlier this year. Riders on Route 3 (West End) can take advantage of increased frequencies, with buses running every 10 minutes during the mid-day window from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. However, detours are currently in effect for Route 3, Route 7, Route 8, and Route 86 due to local infrastructure work downtown. These detours involve re-routing from John Lewis Way to James Robertson Parkway and will remain in place until further notice. Passengers are encouraged to check the WeGo mobile app for real-time stop updates before heading to their usual boarding locations.