Months-Long Lane Closure Near Nashville International Airport Begins Tuesday, Affecting Terminal Drive Connection to I-40

What is closing and when

A months-long traffic change is set to begin near Nashville International Airport, as crews start work to expand a key outbound roadway linking the terminal area to Interstate 40. The right-hand outbound lane on the connector from Terminal Drive to I-40 is scheduled to close at 7 a.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

The lane closure is expected to remain in place through the end of April 2026. Construction is planned to continue continuously, including on weekends, as the airport adds capacity to the connector road.

How drivers can still reach I-40

Even with the right lane closed, drivers will still be able to access I-40 in both directions from the airport’s terminal roadway system. Airport officials have said the outbound ramp to I-40 westbound and the newer ramp connection to I-40 eastbound will remain open during the project.

Motorists should expect shifting traffic patterns and should follow posted signs and traffic management in the work zone, particularly during peak departures and arrivals when congestion can back up toward the terminal curb.

Planned pause during Spring Break travel

To reduce pressure during one of the airport’s busiest seasonal periods, the construction plan includes a temporary suspension. The right lane is expected to reopen from March 5 through March 19, 2026, before the closure resumes on March 20 for the final phase of work.

The pause is intended to support peak Spring Break traffic, when vehicle volumes to and from the terminal routinely increase.

Why the work is happening

The lane expansion is part of ongoing airport roadway upgrades associated with New Horizon, the airport’s multi-year growth and renovation program. The broader effort has already included major terminal-area projects and is designed to accommodate continued increases in passenger activity and the ground-transportation demand that comes with it.

What travelers should do now

• Allow extra time for drop-offs, pickups, and rental-car returns, particularly on weekday mornings and weekend afternoons.

• Watch for changing lane configurations approaching the Terminal Drive-to-I-40 connector, where queues can form quickly.

• Consider alternate routing within the airport road network when signs direct traffic away from the work area.

The project timeline extends through late April, and traffic impacts are expected to fluctuate as crews move through different stages of construction.