The south block of Second Avenue has reopened to vehicles with traffic changes as of Friday, Dec. 20, as construction is now complete between Commerce Street and Broadway. This milestone is ahead of schedule–construction began in January 2024 and was projected to last approximately 12 months–as well as before the fourth anniversary of the bombing on Christmas Day 2020. The reimagined streetscape design that has been incorporated into the south block, with its renewed emphasis on the pedestrian experience, is part of the Second Avenue Rebuild, which is led by the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency on behalf of the city.
“I am excited for Nashvillians to experience the beautiful streetscapes and support the businesses that are already open there. With just one block left to reopen, we are close to a new chapter for the historic street,” said Mayor Freddie O’Connell.
“In the years since the Christmas day bombing, we have worked hard to bring back Second Avenue with a nod toward its deep history and even better infrastructure than we had there before,” said Mayor Freddie O’Connell. “I am excited for Nashvillians to experience the beautiful streetscapes and support the businesses that are already open there. With just one block left to reopen, we are close to a new chapter for the historic street. I’m grateful to everyone who has put in so much work to reopen Second Avenue.”
Traffic changes on the south block are now in effect. Traffic on the south block now runs one way northbound from Broadway up to Commerce Street where it is then diverted westbound. There is a temporary change in direction on Commerce Street between Third Avenue and Second Avenue during this time as it becomes a one-way westbound street. This is part of the plan approved by the Nashville Department of Transportation & Multimodal Infrastructure to promote safety for both vehicles and pedestrians and eliminate the need for a Commerce Street turnaround as oncoming traffic exits Second Avenue. Sidewalks and crosswalks to allow for pedestrian access will remain open. These patterns will be in place through construction on the middle block between Commerce and Church Streets, which is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2025. Click the button below to see a detailed south block traffic map.
“I applaud the team on the accomplishment of completing construction on the south block of Second Avenue ahead of schedule in service to the people of Nashville and all who are invested in the long-term success of this historic street,” said MDHA Executive Director Dr. Troy D. White.
“MDHA is a proud partner of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County on the city’s development initiatives,” said MDHA Executive Director Dr. Troy D. White. “I applaud the team on the accomplishment of completing construction on the south block of Second Avenue ahead of schedule in service to the people of Nashville and all who are invested in the long-term success of this historic street.”
Feedback from stakeholders helped shape the south block streetscape designs, such as designating more pedestrian space, creating areas for outdoor dining, facilitating inviting spaces for locals as well as tourists and activation opportunities. Additional sustainable practices have also been included, such as carbon-capturing concrete used for the widened sidewalks, solar-powered waste management, Dark Sky-approved streetlights and an increased variety of larger trees with large planter boxes. While construction on the south block is complete, crews will continue to add more elements to further enhance the pedestrian experience. The landscaping will be planted and outdoor dining will be available in the spring. The project team will also continue to update traffic signals and add crosswalks at Commerce Street through the end of the full project in late 2025.
Prior to work on the street-level, construction crews addressed the infrastructure underground. On the south block, a new storm drain infrastructure system was installed to separate stormwater from the existing combined sewer system as part of Metro Water Services’ Clean Water Nashville initiative. The initiative’s goal is to ensure the environmental health of the Cumberland River and its tributaries for future generations.
Many of these elements are part of the rebuilt north block of Second Avenue between Church and Union Streets, as well. The north block was the first to undergo construction as part of the Second Avenue Rebuild. It reopened to vehicle traffic in June 2024 following 12 months of construction. All buildings and businesses remained open with pedestrian access throughout construction on the north and south blocks.
The middle block between Commerce and Church Streets includes the site of the blast and was the most heavily damaged of the three blocks. It will be the final block to undergo construction as part of the Second Avenue Rebuild. Preliminary work on the stormwater infrastructure is currently underway with construction expected to escalate in early 2025 with a projected schedule of 12 months. Once construction is complete on the middle block, Second Avenue will be fully restored with the new streetscape. All buildings and businesses will continue to remain open with pedestrian access throughout construction.
The Second Avenue Rebuild is a fully funded project with the majority of funding coming from the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County via the Capital Spending Plan, with additional funding provided by the Convention Center Authority.
