FAQ: Lane Closures at BNA

What’s been going on with the traffic at BNA recently?

In the current phase of our BNA Vision construction that adds a new roof section over the front of what will be the new spacious terminal lobby and central checkpoint, we need to close down traffic lanes to keep our passengers safe while construction is overhead. Passenger safety is our main priority.

The current lane closure schedule is as follows:

  • Mondays
    • 9 pm – 4 pm: Departures level roadway is closed. All terminal traffic will be routed to the Arrival level.
  • Tuesdays
    • 9 am – 7 pm: Inner level Departure lanes are closed
    • 7 pm – 4 am: Departures level roadway is closed. All terminal traffic will be routed to the Arrival level.
  • Wednesdays
    • 9 am – 7 pm: Inner level Departure lanes are closed
    • 7 pm – 4 am: Departures level roadway is closed. All terminal traffic will be routed to the Arrival level
  • Thursdays
    • 9 pm – 4 am: Departures level roadway is closed. All terminal traffic will be routed to the Arrival level
  • Fridays
    • 9pm – 4am: Departures level roadway is closed. All terminal traffic will be routed to the Arrival level
  • Saturdays:
    • 8am – 4pm: Inner level Departure lanes are closed
    • 7pm – 4pm: Departures level roadway is closed. All terminal traffic will be routed to the Arrival level
  • Sundays
    • All lanes are open as normal.

When will the lane closures stop?

As of now, early 2023 is our target date for re-opening the departures level during all hours. We intentionally started this phase of construction during 2020 when our passenger numbers were at an all- time low. Since then, we’ve experienced an exponential amount of growth. We appreciate your patience as we work hard to deliver you a world-class airport!

What can I do to prepare for lane closures?

If you are picking up or dropping off during the time of the scheduled lane closures, please plan extra time into your schedule. There is a lot of exciting change happening at BNA and all of Nashville in order to accommodate growth, and we greatly appreciate your patience.

How can I find my loved ones on the arrivals level during closures?

There are numbers on the columns in the arrivals level that identify the pick-up areas. Please see the picture below as an example.

Are there any other helpful tips?

If you are dropping off during the time of the scheduled lane closures, pull to the far-right lane to unload. Use center and left lanes for exit, and through traffic.

Second BNA Parking Garage Awarded Coveted Parksmart Certification

BNA Recognized for ‘Green’ Design, Construction and Operation of Terminal Garage #1

The new Terminal Garage 1 at Nashville International Airport®(BNA) has achieved the Parksmart Silver Certification for its sustainable design, construction and operation. This marks the second garage at BNA to achieve the Parksmart certification, and BNA is home to two of only 42 certified parking structures in the world.

BNA’s Terminal Garage 1 is a state-of-the-art, $174 million facility opened in 2021 with six levels of public parking, 2,800 parking spaces, a variety of amenities for travelers and a new and improved valet center with dedicated entrance. The structure was designed by Moody Nolan and built by Messer Construction utilizing Parksmart protocols, the world’s only rating system designed to advance sustainable mobility through smarter parking structure design and operation. In October 2019, BNA’s Terminal Garage 2 garnered the Bronze Certification.

“We have a longstanding commitment to sustainability here at Nashville International Airport. As we continue to expand our airport with BNA Vision, so too does our focus on ‘green’ design, construction and operation,” said BNA Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “We’re proud to have another garage awarded the Parksmart certification. It’s an enormous feat, and that’s a testament to our entire team making an intentional effort to put sustainability first.”

Additional Terminal Garage 1 facts:

Parksmart is the world’s only rating system designed to advance sustainable mobility through smarter parking structure design and operation. Administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the Parksmart framework offers a roadmap to use innovative, solutions-oriented strategies. With the guidance of the Parksmart protocols, BNA implemented an integrated design process that helps maximize the value of the structure over its lifetime by cutting operational costs, reducing environmental impact and increasing energy efficiency.

Sustainability was a guiding principle in the Terminal Garage’s development. Examples of “green” practices and components that factored into the facility’s Parksmart certification:

BNA’s Terminal Garages are major components of BNA® Vision, the dynamic growth and expansion plan for Nashville International Airport. In addition to the Terminal Garage #1 and #2, BNA® Vision, will include one additional parking garage, a renovated central terminal, expanded security checkpoint, a state-of-the-art International Arrivals Facility, a high-end hotel and more. Take a virtual 360-degree tour, view renderings and watch the BNA® Vision video at BNAVision.com.

Delta Air Lines Ticket Counter Has Moved

Flying Delta? The ticket counter has moved to the North Terminal ticketing area, next to Frontier ticketing. Delta operates out of Concourse B (North Terminal).

Bigger, Better BNA: Twice As Many (and Larger!) Restrooms on the Arrivals Level

BNA Vision is building a bigger, better airport with larger facilities AND even more focus on customer conveniences and amenities.

One more example: BNA now has four sets of restrooms on Level 2, compared to two sets of restroom facilities when BNA Vision began. The fourth and final restroom cluster opened across from baggage carousel 4 on Oct. 5.

Elsewhere in the terminal, existing restrooms will be remodeled to match our new restrooms over the next few years. Bigger, better restrooms are on the way!

BNA’s Concourse D: A 115,000-Square-Foot Model of Sustainability

BNA’s new Concourse D is not just a place to catch your flight. It’s a LEED-registered project and a 115,000-square-foot model of sustainable design, construction and operation.

Concourse D, which opened in July 2020 with the certification goal of LEED Silver, features six domestic aircraft gates and a variety of sustainable features including energy efficient, programmable lighting, water-conserving restroom facilities, electrochromic glass, a modernized central utility plant for heating and cooling the terminal, recycling receptacles, architectural design that provides natural light and compelling views, public art installations that enhance the passenger experience and more.

Design architect: Corgan

Design-build team: Hensel Phelps and Fentress Architects

▶️ Watch the Concourse D sustainability video

🌱 Click here for the Concourse D sustainability fact sheet

About LEED

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building types, LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. LEED is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). usgbc.org

Frequently Asked Questions: One BNA, Two Terminals

BNA now operates as TWO distinct terminals as construction gets underway in the center of the Departures level. Here are the answers to frequently asked questions about this change.

Is this change permanent or temporary?
This development is temporary, but it will last until late 2023, when construction is scheduled to be completed on the major elements of the terminal expansion and renovation.

Will this affect my arrival time? Do I need to arrive earlier than normal?
No. As always, passengers are advised to arrive in the terminal at least two hours prior to their scheduled departure.

What if my connecting flight is in another terminal?
The vast majority of arriving and connecting flights will be in the same terminal. Passengers whose connecting flights are not in the same terminal as their arriving flights will need to exit the terminal and go through the security checkpoint at the other terminal.

Will the Baggage Claim be affected by the terminal split?
No. The Baggage Claim will not be split during construction.

If my connecting flight is in a different terminal from my arriving flight, will my luggage carry over to my connecting flight?
Baggage should carry over to your connecting flight. You should not have to go to the Baggage Claim to retrieve your baggage to take with you. However, we recommend checking with your airline upon arrival, just in case.

Will this change affect where passengers are dropped off?
Watch for curbside signs on the Departures level. They will tell you where to drop off passengers, either North Terminal or South Terminal. Beginning in January 2021, the center of the Ticketing Lobby will close, making it even more important to drop off passengers at the correct terminal, as passengers will not be able to cross through the Ticketing Lobby as they can today.

Is there anything I should know about parking?
Passengers may continue to park in the garage or surface lot they prefer (Terminal Garages 1 & 2, Terminal Lot A and Valet). Click here for daily rates and more information about parking options.

My favorite restaurant or shop is not in the same terminal I’ll be using. What are my options?
Click here for a listing of food and retail options by terminal, or click here for an interactive map.

How can I get assistance if I have a question?
We have two Information Center kiosks on the Departures level: one on the North side, and one on the South side. You may also call 615-275-2098 for assistance.

Why do you have to close the center lobby completely?
For the safety of our passengers, and to speed up the construction timeline. The center of the Departures level will be a construction zone with demolition and construction happening simultaneously. By phasing the construction process in this way, we will be able to reopen the center of the Departures level approximately a year earlier!

Will the terminal connect again at the end of construction?
Yes. All concourses will connect on the secure side of the airport in 2023, once construction is complete.

One BNA. Two Terminals.

Beginning Sept. 1, 2020:

BNA’s terminal will operate as two terminals. To avoid delays, passengers will need to use the correct security checkpoint (North or South) to get to their gates. It’s important to match your airline with the correct terminal to be in the right place.

Click to enlarge

Once past the security checkpoint, there will be no passage between Concourses A/B and Concourses C/D. (Getting to another concourse on the other side of the airport will require exiting and going through security screening a second time.)


Know Before You Go

Each checkpoint provides access to the following airlines:


Watch for Signs to Direct You

Signs will be placed in the following locations to guide you to the correct checkpoint (North or South) to catch your flight:


Beginning January 2021:

The center of the Ticketing Lobby will close for construction. Passengers will need to enter the terminal on the correct side to reach either the North Security Checkpoint or the South Security Checkpoint.

Again, signs in multiple locations will guide you to the correct entrance, the correct security checkpoint and the correct gate.


What We’re Doing

We’re making big changes to the main terminal, which means we need to close the center section for the safety of our passengers. This is a temporary change, and all concourses on the secure side will connect again when construction is complete in 2023.

Upon completion, we’ll have a bigger, better BNA with:

Thank you for your patience as we make improvements to your airport. It’s going to be world-class! Mark your calendar for 2023.

More Progress: South Terminal Wing Expansion Opens This Week

Our new South Terminal Wing is about to open!

➡️ Beginning tomorrow, Aug. 19, Southwest will be in a new ticketing location (just down from its current location). See map.

➡️ The South Security Checkpoint opens this Thursday, Aug. 20. Heading to Concourses C or D? Use the South Checkpoint. (The central checkpoint will be closed as of Thursday morning.)

COMING SOON: Level 2 of the South Wing, which expands the Baggage Claim, opens in late September. Stay tuned for updates.

Information Center Has Moved

Have a question? Our Information Center has moved from the Baggage Claim (Level 2) to the Ticketing Lobby (Level 3). We now have TWO Information Center kiosks, one near each of the “up” escalators. We’re here to assist you!

🗺️ Interactive map: map.flynashville.com

Allegiant, Alaska Moving to Concourse C

✈️ Allegiant flights will operate out of Concourse C beginning tomorrow (July 29).
✈️ Alaska will move on Aug. 5.
🗺️ Ticketing counters for both airlines are located in the center section of the Ticketing Lobby.