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- calendar_today October 26, 2026
Right Turns on Red Restricted at Key Nashville Intersections
The Nashville Department of Transportation (NDOT) has announced that right turns on red lights will soon be banned at seven specific intersections throughout the city. This new measure comes following the withdrawal of a broader right-turn-on-red ban that was previously considered by the Metro Council.
Background: From Citywide Proposal to Targeted Action
Earlier this year, Metro Councilmember Sandra Sepulveda proposed a citywide ban on right turns on red at all nashville intersections, aiming to improve pedestrian safety in response to an increase in pedestrian deaths. The proposal was scaled back to a few dozen intersections after community debate, and eventually withdrawn after NDOT agreed to implement targeted right turn restrictions and study further locations.
NDOT’s Approach to Intersection Safety
According to NDOT public information coordinator Brendan Scully, "Right turn on red restrictions are one of the many tools in NDOT’s toolkit for making streets safer for people walking." Scully emphasized that NDOT engineers use a data-driven, case-by-case approach to decide which traffic safety measures and stop light restrictions to implement, with pedestrian safety as a top priority.
List of Intersections With New Right Turn Restrictions
The following intersections will have a ban on right turns at red lights installed in the coming weeks:
- Third Avenue North and Commerce Street
- Fourth Avenue South and Korean Veterans Boulevard
- 12th Avenue North and Broadway
- 25th Avenue South and Children’s Way
- Nolensville Pike and Welshwood Drive
- Rosa L. Parks Boulevard and Church Street
- Smith Springs Road and Old Murfreesboro Pike
Leading Pedestrian Intervals to be Introduced
In addition to the ndot ban on right turns at certain intersections, NDOT will also update traffic signals at seven locations by introducing leading pedestrian intervals. This safety feature gives pedestrians a head start to increase their visibility in the crosswalk before vehicles are allowed to turn. The intersections scheduled for this change include:
- South Seventh Street and Main Street
- Ninth Avenue North and Buchanan Street
- South 10th Street and Woodland Street
- 17th Avenue North and Jo Johnston Avenue
- 25th Avenue South and Children’s Way
- 49th Avenue North and Charlotte Pike
- Dr. DB Todd Jr. Boulevard and Jo Johnston Avenue
Notably, the intersection at 25th Avenue South and Children’s Way will receive both a right-turn-on-red ban and leading pedestrian interval updates.
Next Steps and Ongoing Evaluation
NDOT plans to continue evaluating intersections across Nashville to determine further opportunities for intersection safety improvements. The department remains focused on using data to identify where additional traffic signals modifications or right turn restrictions could enhance pedestrian and traffic safety throughout the city.
Source: wpln.org.
