NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Drivers on a major North Nashville roadway will soon need to slow down as the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) has approved a speed limit reduction on a section of Whites Creek Pike. The new limit, which lowers the speed to 35 miles per hour, will apply to the stretch of road from West Nocturne Drive to West Trinity Lane.
The proposal was discussed and approved by the Metro Traffic & Parking Commission at their meeting on Monday. NDOT explained that the decision was based on a combination of engineering studies, crash history, and observed traffic conditions. According to a spokesperson, the three-year crash history along this stretch of Whites Creek Pike shows a slight decrease in the number of accidents. However, ongoing property development and anticipated changes in traffic volumes prompted the need for further safety measures.
An engineering speed study conducted using federal guidelines and field data—including road characteristics, crash history, pedestrian activity, and lane configurations—recommended the reduction to 35 mph. NDOT has agreed with the findings of this study, believing the change will improve overall safety in the area.
Local resident Ozeal Black, who attends Robert Heights Missionary Baptist Church located at the intersection, expressed relief at the speed limit reduction, citing a history of speeding issues. Black shared concerns about vehicles speeding through the area, particularly around curves, with some drivers reaching speeds of 50 to 60 miles per hour. Black noted that speeding had led to multiple incidents, including the damage to the church’s mailbox and the destruction of a church sign, which was torn down by a speeding vehicle.
“It’s just unsafe,” Black said. “When they get up around the curve, they’re doing 50 and 60. It’s a danger to the whole area.”
Kyonzté Toombs, the Metro Councilmember representing the area, emphasized the importance of reducing speed in the community, where there are few sidewalks and pedestrians often walk along the road to access bus stops and local shops. Toombs stated that reducing the speed limit would provide safer conditions for pedestrians and help avoid accidents.
“It’s really important for folks to be at a more safe speed,” Toombs said. “You don’t want anybody to be hit by a car, but if they were, you want them to at least have a chance to survive.”
While the speed limit reduction has been hailed as a win for safety, some local residents, like Black, believe that enforcement will be crucial to ensure that drivers adhere to the new limits. Black argued that simply lowering the speed limit might not be enough and that more active traffic monitoring would be needed to see real change.
“Lowering the speed limit is not going to help,” Black said. “You’re going to have to have somebody sit out here and watch them for a while to make sure that they slow down.”
NDOT plans to notify the public about the upcoming change through social media channels and dynamic message boards. The boards will be placed along Whites Creek Pike for at least two weeks before permanent speed limit signs are installed. Officials expect to have the new permanent signage in place by this spring.
The speed limit reduction follows similar changes made in other parts of the city, such as Lebanon Pike in Donelson, although it is still too soon to assess the full impact of those adjustments. NDOT has indicated it will continue to monitor traffic conditions and safety performance in the area over time.
