Nolensville Pike all-access corridor enters project development in Nashville

Nashville has moved the Nolensville Pike All-Access Corridor into project development, selecting HDR to lead the work. The June 26 announcement marks a real planning step, but it is not construction yet.

The corridor runs about 9 miles from Downtown to South Nashville. Metro says this phase is expected to take two to three years before the project moves into engineering and construction. For residents and commuters who use Nolensville Pike every day, that means the next changes will likely show up first in meetings, concepts, and design work rather than on the street.

What Metro says could change

The city’s plan calls for high-frequency bus service, transit-only lanes where feasible, modernized signals, transit signal priority, sidewalks, safer crossings, bikeway connections, smart signal upgrades, and corridor-wide safety improvements. Metro says the final details will be shaped by engineering analysis and community input.

That matters because Nolensville Pike is already one of Nashville’s busiest transit corridors. For drivers, the long-term goal is more predictable traffic. For bus riders, the goal is shorter waits and more reliable trips. For people walking, the project is meant to make crossings and sidewalks safer.

Why it matters locally

Nolensville Pike is more than a commuter route. It is also a work corridor and a commercial strip where small businesses depend on people being able to reach storefronts safely and easily. Better crossings and sidewalks could help foot traffic, but neighbors and merchants should expect a long stretch of planning and outreach before final construction plans are set.

Metro’s broader All-Access Corridors program is meant to upgrade some of Nashville’s busiest roads with faster transit, safer streets, and better access to daily destinations. Nolensville Pike is one of the first corridors to enter that pipeline.

What happens next

HDR will lead planning, design, engineering, and engagement work. Metro says that process will help define transit lanes, station locations, safety upgrades, and Complete Streets improvements. Public and stakeholder input will also shape the street design before the project advances to later phases.

For now, the main takeaway is simple: Nolensville Pike is now in active project development, and the next few years will help determine how people drive, ride, walk, and do business along one of south Nashville’s most important roads.

Sources

• City of Nashville: All-Access Corridors program page
• WSMV: Residents near Nolensville Pike want your input on reimagining the corridor
• WPLN News: Nashville transit improvement plan details