Nashville Unscripted · Nashville Airport
BNA construction update: the center of the terminal is a work zone through December 2027. Here’s exactly what’s closed, how to get between the garages and the terminal now, and how much extra time to give yourself.
The short answer: since June 1, 2026, BNA’s Central Core (the main escalator and elevator bank between ground transportation, baggage claim and ticketing) has been closed for an 18-month, $40 million rebuild. The Plaza Level and the Level 5 pedestrian bridge are closed, and baggage claims 6 and 7 are removed. Get between the garages and the terminal on Level 1. Check-in, security, gates, both terminal garages and the Grand Lobby are all open.
Project
Central Core Enhancement
Started
June 1, 2026
Expected Finish
December 2027
Cost
$40 million
Escalators
6 → 16
Elevators
2 → 3, larger & faster
BNA Construction: What’s Closed Right Now
| Area | Status | What to Do Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Central Core escalators and elevators | Closed | Use the escalators and elevators outside the core. Follow the signs and staff. |
| Plaza Level | Closed for safety | No access during construction |
| Pedestrian bridge (Level 5) | Unavailable | Walk between the garages and the terminal on Level 1 |
| Baggage claims 6 and 7 | Removed | Check the screens for your carousel number |
| Hashimoto’s “The Unscalable Rampart of Time” | Taken down and stored | It will be adapted and reinstalled when the project finishes |
The Change That Trips People Up
If you used to walk from the garage to the terminal over the Level 5 bridge, that route is gone for now. Go down to Level 1 in Terminal Garage 1 or 2 and cross at ground level. Coming back, do the same in reverse.
Still Open Throughout Construction
- The Grand Lobby, ticket counters and check-in
- Security, all concourses and gates, plus the restaurants, shops and live music past security
- Terminal Garages 1 and 2, both fully open
- Level 1 pedestrian access between the garages and the terminal
- Pre-security escalators and elevators outside the core
- Curbside: drop-off on Level 3 and pickup on Level 2, as usual
- Ground transportation: Uber, Lyft, taxis and shuttles still pick up at the Ground Transportation Center on Level 1 of Terminal Garage 2
In BNA’s Words
“The way you enter BNA may look different over the next 18 months, but the iconic Nashville experience inside remains unchanged.” — Doug Kreulen, BNA president and CEO
How Much Extra Time to Allow
BNA’s standard guidance is still 2 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before international. The detours add walking, so build in a cushion on top of that:
- Add about 30 minutes to your normal routine, especially if you park and walk in, since the Level 1 crossing is longer than the old bridge route.
- Checking a bag at a busy time? Aim for 2½ hours before a domestic flight. Weekday mornings and Friday and Sunday afternoons are the crunch times.
- Carry-on only with TSA PreCheck? You can keep closer to the standard 2 hours. Check in on the app and head straight to security.
Getting to the airport takes its own time. Donelson Pike and I-40 back up at rush hour and on big event days, so check live traffic before you leave.
Arriving at BNA During Construction
- Bags: check the screens for your carousel. Claims 6 and 7 are out of service.
- Rideshare and taxis: from baggage claim, go down to Level 1, exit the terminal, turn right and follow the covered walkway to the Ground Transportation Center in Terminal Garage 2. Lyft picks up in Zone A, Uber in Zones B and C. Step-by-step pickup guide
- International arrivals: local reporting says the International Arrivals exit moved to the south end of Level 1, near the information desk. Follow the posted arrows.
- Parked in a terminal garage: cross on Level 1, not the Level 5 bridge.
Parking During Construction
Both terminal garages stay open, but they fill up often, and on-airport rates went up in 2026: $24/day for Economy Lots B and C, $36/day for the garages and $48/day for valet. Terminal Lot A is closed, and parking is cashless.
A pre-booked off-airport lot with a shuttle skips the garage walk entirely and usually costs less, especially for trips of three days or more.
Driving to BNA?
Reserve Parking Before You Leave
Compare off-airport lots near BNA and lock in a spot.
Find BNA Airport Parking →Full rates and what a week really costs: BNA airport parking guide.
Why BNA Is Rebuilding Its Center
BNA’s 2016 expansion plan was sized for 30 million passengers a year. The airport now expects 40 million a year within the next decade, with peak months reaching 3.8 million. The Central Core, the escalator and elevator bank that links ground transportation, baggage claim, ticketing and the Plaza, is the choke point.
The fix nearly triples the escalators, from 6 to 16, and replaces the two elevators with three larger, faster ones, roughly doubling capacity. It’s designed by Fentress Studios (a Populous company) and built by Hensel Phelps. Funding comes from bonds, federal and state aviation grants, Passenger Facility Charges and other airport funds, with no local tax dollars.
It’s the first piece of BNA’s larger “New Horizon” plan, which also includes a new Concourse A, a new parking garage and a consolidated rental car facility being built where Terminal Lot A used to be.
What It Looks Like When It’s Done
By December 2027: sixteen escalators instead of six, three bigger elevators instead of two, the Plaza Level and pedestrian bridge back open, and Hashimoto’s suspended artwork reinstalled in a rebuilt atrium. Until then, follow the signs and the staff, and give yourself the extra half hour.
Staying Overnight Before an Early Flight?
Book a Nashville Hotel
Airport-area hotels with shuttles take the stress out of a 6 a.m. departure.
Browse Nashville Hotels → Browse Nashville VRBOs →→ Nashville Airport (BNA) Guide
→ BNA Airport Parking: 2026 Rates
→ Nashville Airport to Broadway
→ BNA Uber, Lyft & Taxi Pickup
→ Nashville Airport Renamed for Dolly Parton
→ Car Towed in Nashville: What to Do
Last updated October 2026. Closures and routes shift as construction moves through phases. Check flynashville.com/centralcore and follow posted signs before you travel. This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.