Natchez Trace bridge closure

A stretch of the Natchez Trace Parkway in Williamson County closes April 15 as crews start installing a permanent safety barrier on the Double Arch Bridge. (nps.gov) The National Park Service said the bridge will be closed to motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists until spring 2027. The shutdown covers the parkway between Big Tree Overlook at milepost 440 and the Highway 96 off-ramp at milepost 437. (nps.gov) Park officials posted a 7.5-mile detour for through traffic. Bicyclists planning longer rides are being told to park at the Highway 96 off-ramp and ride south of milepost 437, while shorter rides can start at milepost 442 and turn around at Big Tree Overlook. (nps.gov) The barrier project replaces a temporary fence installed in June 2022. Superintendent Wendy Ross said the permanent version is meant to be more durable, more effective and more visually compatible with the bridge. (nps.gov) The work follows years of pressure from families and mental health advocates after repeated suicides at the bridge. News reports this week said more than 40 people have died there since 2000. (wkrn.com) Mary Linden Salter of the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug & other Addiction Services said barriers also force a public conversation about suicide prevention. Harper Grace Rice of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network said a physical barrier can interrupt an impulsive act long enough for someone to get help. (wkrn.com) The Double Arch Bridge opened in 1994 and spans Birdsong Hollow at roughly 155 feet. The 1,572-foot structure was the first segmentally constructed concrete arch bridge in the United States and won the 1995 Presidential Award for Design Excellence. (nps.gov) Construction will also include preventive maintenance and repainting, so the closure is not limited to barrier installation alone. For travelers who use the parkway as a scenic commuter route southwest of Nashville, the detour starts Wednesday and lasts into next spring. (nps.gov)