The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) says Monday’s massive traffic jam at Nashville International Airport (BNA) was caused by a combination of unusual circumstances, including an overwhelming surge in rideshare demand and large-scale events bringing thousands of travelers through the city.
In a statement released Tuesday, MNAA said preliminary findings show rideshare traffic was the biggest factor, with demand running at 2.5 times normal levels for an 11-hour stretch. The airport’s Ground Transportation Center typically handles around 6,000 vehicles on a Monday, but that number swelled to more than 14,000 on Sept. 15.
Other contributing factors included a large number of NFL fans departing Nashville, the arrival of about 10,000 attendees for the Autodesk Convention, and the departure of more than 2,000 participants from the Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics conference.
The statement followed a day of frustration for travelers. A crash on Terminal Drive initially slowed traffic and created backups on the I-40 ramps leading to the airport. TDOT reported the crash cleared by 4:30 p.m., but congestion continued for hours. Drivers posted on social media that they had been stuck for long stretches trying to reach the airport, while others waiting on rideshares said they were stranded. Some even reported seeing people leave their cars and walk.
By 5:45 p.m., BNA confirmed Metro Police and the Tennessee Highway Patrol were on site assisting with traffic management. The backup was further complicated by ongoing TDOT construction on Donelson Pike tied to the I-40 Interchange project.
MNAA said its leadership team has launched a full-scale after-action review to determine lessons learned and corrective steps. Plans include strengthening traffic mitigation during high-volume events, improving coordination with rideshare companies, and expanding communication with state and local partners.
By 11:15 p.m. Monday, traffic volume and flow had returned to normal. The airport thanked passengers and the Nashville community for their patience and said it remains committed to safeguarding the travel experience.
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2 Hr traffic jam is a joke. I spent 4 hours stuck in the rental car exit que. It only started moving once the garage employees thoughtfully blocked off and opened up the garage entrance for people trying to exit.
I may still be there if it wasn’t for them!