Nashville has grown exponentially in the last couple of years, and so has our commute time. For those of you born and raised in the area, or even a few of us older transplants, it’s absolutely shocking how backed up the roads get – even in the middle of the afternoon! Our infrastructure is straining under all the new folks, but we still (try to?) keep a smile on our faces. Check out the seven roads to avoid during rush hour – do you agree?
- I-24
Alexander Steinhoff - Flickr Sorry to everybody that lives in Antioch, Smyrna, and La Vergne, but I-24 has the worst rush hour traffic in the history of human rush hours. Truly, I-24 is for those who are either gluttons for punishment or have crazy flexible work schedules that let you avoid rush hour all together.
- Wedgewood
Jamie - Flickr If you have come from the 12th South area down Wedgewood to get on I-65 during rush hour, you know what it’s like to experience death. Okay, obviously not literally, but you know that there’s a little bit of you that dies inside every time you round the curve after 12th Avenue and wonder, “How is it backed up THIS far??”
- 12 South
Sean Davis - Flickr 12th South is a beautiful road with lots of shops and restaurants, but it is a nightmare during rush hour. This street has an added element with added rush hours on weekends when the sidewalks are flooded with pedestrians. Definitely avoid it at all costs either way – 10th Avenue is two streets over and has next to no traffic.
- I-440
Doug Kerr - Flickr With all of the potholes, we’re not sure why you’d want to drive down I-440 when there isn’t any traffic, but it’s all the more maddening when there is traffic. Don’t let the brief reprise as you cross over I-65 fool you. You’re just going to hit traffic again in about a mile. Sorry.
- Demonbreun
Stephen Drake - Flickr Demonbreun has the distinct honor of being that Nashville road that you would think will solve all of your rush hour traffic woes, only to find out that it will betray you if you ever give it the chance. Those who have tried getting on the South Loop from near the Frist during Rush Hour know what I’m talking about. Those who haven’t tried it, for your own sakes, don’t.
- Hillsboro Pike
Adam Fagan - Flickr Hillsboro Pike is one of those Nashvillian necessary evils. No one wants to sit in traffic on Hillsboro Pike at noon on a Saturday, but finding exactly what you’re looking for at Green Hills Mall makes it all worth it. That is, until you try to leave Green Hills and question anew why you ever go there in the first place.
- Broadway
Thomas Hawk - Flickr Broadway might be about the easiest place to get on to the South Loop from downtown, but that doesn’t mean we like it. If you hit it at just the right time and get stopped in front of the Frist, be sure to just get out of your car, see the art for a half of an hour or so, and get right back in your car in the traffic that STILL hasn’t moved.
Ah, yes. Are you having flashbacks to that one afternoon spent IN YOUR CAR FOR HOURS?! Sorry to stress you out – but the struggle is real.
Alexander Steinhoff - Flickr
Sorry to everybody that lives in Antioch, Smyrna, and La Vergne, but I-24 has the worst rush hour traffic in the history of human rush hours. Truly, I-24 is for those who are either gluttons for punishment or have crazy flexible work schedules that let you avoid rush hour all together.
Jamie - Flickr
If you have come from the 12th South area down Wedgewood to get on I-65 during rush hour, you know what it’s like to experience death. Okay, obviously not literally, but you know that there’s a little bit of you that dies inside every time you round the curve after 12th Avenue and wonder, “How is it backed up THIS far??”
Sean Davis - Flickr
12th South is a beautiful road with lots of shops and restaurants, but it is a nightmare during rush hour. This street has an added element with added rush hours on weekends when the sidewalks are flooded with pedestrians. Definitely avoid it at all costs either way – 10th Avenue is two streets over and has next to no traffic.
Doug Kerr - Flickr
With all of the potholes, we’re not sure why you’d want to drive down I-440 when there isn’t any traffic, but it’s all the more maddening when there is traffic. Don’t let the brief reprise as you cross over I-65 fool you. You’re just going to hit traffic again in about a mile. Sorry.
Stephen Drake - Flickr
Demonbreun has the distinct honor of being that Nashville road that you would think will solve all of your rush hour traffic woes, only to find out that it will betray you if you ever give it the chance. Those who have tried getting on the South Loop from near the Frist during Rush Hour know what I’m talking about. Those who haven’t tried it, for your own sakes, don’t.
Adam Fagan - Flickr
Hillsboro Pike is one of those Nashvillian necessary evils. No one wants to sit in traffic on Hillsboro Pike at noon on a Saturday, but finding exactly what you’re looking for at Green Hills Mall makes it all worth it. That is, until you try to leave Green Hills and question anew why you ever go there in the first place.
Thomas Hawk - Flickr
Broadway might be about the easiest place to get on to the South Loop from downtown, but that doesn’t mean we like it. If you hit it at just the right time and get stopped in front of the Frist, be sure to just get out of your car, see the art for a half of an hour or so, and get right back in your car in the traffic that STILL hasn’t moved.
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