MLK Day March and Saturday Transit Schedules to Impact Nashville Commute

Holiday Traffic Patterns and Event Closures

Today, Monday, January 19, 2026, commuters in Nashville can expect significantly lighter traffic volumes on major interstates such as I-40, I-24, and I-65 due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day federal holiday. While the morning rush hour is projected to be mild, significant localized disruptions will occur in North Nashville due to the 41st Annual MLK Day March and Convocation. Motorists are advised to avoid the Jefferson Street corridor between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. as the community gathers to honor Dr. King’s legacy.

Major Road Closures: MLK Day March

The primary traffic impact today centers on the annual march route. Road closures will begin as early as 8:00 a.m. around the Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church. The march is scheduled to move along Jefferson Street toward the Tennessee State University (TSU) Gentry Center. Key intersections along 21st Avenue North and Jefferson Street will be restricted or closed to vehicular traffic until the procession clears, likely around 10:30 a.m. TSU campus entrances near the Gentry Center will also experience heavy pedestrian activity and parking constraints throughout the midday hours.

Public Transit and Municipal Alerts

WeGo Public Transit is operating on a Saturday schedule today in observance of the holiday. Commuters should be aware of the following service changes:

• No WeGo Star: The regional commuter rail service is not in operation today.
• Regional Buses: All regional commuter bus routes are suspended for the holiday.
• Saturday Schedule: Fixed-route buses within the city are running on reduced Saturday frequency.
• Administrative Closures: WeGo administrative offices and the Elizabeth Duff Transit Center ticket windows are closed.

Additionally, Metro Nashville has announced that trash and recycling collection will be delayed by one day all week. Residents who normally have Monday pickup should place their bins out on Tuesday.

Ongoing Roadworks and Construction

While some maintenance activities are paused for the holiday, several long-term TDOT projects remain active. On I-65 North and South, the widening project between Rivergate Parkway and US 31W (SR 41) continues to impact lane widths, though no new lane closures are scheduled for the daytime hours today. In Davidson County, utility relocations on SR 24 (US-70) near Terrace Hill Road may cause intermittent flagging and minor delays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Travelers heading toward East Tennessee should also note that I-40 East remains restricted to one lane in certain sections due to ongoing repairs from prior storm damage, which may slow regional travel throughout the afternoon.