NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
The Tennessee Department of Transportation is set to continue its extensive construction project along Interstate 24 near downtown Nashville this weekend.
But there's an extra closure that could make it even more difficult to get around downtown. On Saturday, the Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge will be closed for the Taste of Music City, and that has some businesses worried a bad situation will get even worse.
"We're pretty nervous around here," said Johnny Shields, with the Green Wagon.
After extremely slow business during the first weekend of I-24 construction, Shields said business has since returned to life.
"We're still not doing what our regular weekend business would be," he said.
Now adding to the East Nashville travel woes, the Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge will be closed for the big Taste of Music City event.
"We obviously understand that this is going to be kind of an inconvenience for people in East Nashville this weekend, but we are hopefully getting the word out early enough this week where people will be aware of these detours," said TDOT spokeswoman Deanna Lambert.
TDOT wants drivers to be aware of the many detours they can take for visiting both downtown and East Nashville.
"If you are trying to go into or out of East Nashville, pretty much your only route that is going to be altered this weekend is the Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge, and it's just for Saturday," Lambert said.
Lambert said despite one weekend with more than two inches of rain, construction crews are meeting the completion targets and everything is on schedule.
"This is a bridge rehabilitation project that is needed to make these bridges last another 50 to 60 years. So we just ask for everyone's patience traveling through that area. It's a temporary inconvenience for a long term solution," Lambert said.
Still, it couldn't come at a worse time for business owners such as Shields. This weekend is the Green Wagon's big block party to benefit the East Nashville Cooperative Ministry.
"If nobody can get here, we're not going to be able to make any money for them. And we're not going to be able to have as fun as an event as we want to have. Not to mention I just wasted four months of my time planning this whole event and making it happen," Shields said.
East Nashville businesses urge visitors to not give up if they encounter a road closure, and they point to the Jefferson Street Bridge and Ellington Parkway as other alternatives.
To view the updated detour maps, visit: http://www.tasteofmusiccity.com/detour.html.
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