DONELSON, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee Department of Transportation has begun working on the next stage of the new diverging diamond interchange near Nashville International Airport.

The layout has sparked plenty of reaction online, with some drivers welcoming the new traffic flow while others are not.

The I-40 Interchange at Donelson Pike is the busy stretch of road getting a makeover.

"The Nashville area is growing so much, we want to stay ahead of that as much as we can," TDOT Region 3 Director of Operations Nathan Vatter said.

According to the TDOT, the 2024 average annual daily traffic on I-40 between Donelson Pike and the ramps into and out of the airport was 143,760.

The diverging diamond interchange is helping drivers get to where they need to go. The goal is to create more safety and efficiency.

"It is a newer type design; it's been around just in the last decade or so," Vatter said.

The design allows two directions of traffic to temporarily cross the opposite side of the road over I-40 before going back to the original traffic pattern.

TDOT officials said that overall, the feedback has been positive but understand that change can be difficult.

"A lot of people were a little apprehensive at first when we first opened this DDI because it is a new interchange, it's a new thing that some people may not have experienced before," Middle Tennessee Regional Communications Officer Erin Zeigler said.

Right now, crews are finishing up milling and paving the road. TDOT officials said it will take about three weeks for them to finish up the pavement. Until then, drivers can expect lane and ramp closures every weekday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"Even though it is a short-term headache, and we know no one likes lane closures, it's for a greater good," Zeigler said.

The entire project is expected to be completed by 2027.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/tdot-makes-progress-on-i-40-interchange-project/