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28th/31st Ave Connector Project

April 30, 2012

Construction of the 28th/31st Avenue Connector project that will unite parts of West End with North Nashville is more than half-way complete, following the completion of the concrete deck for the bridge. The bridge spans the CSX railroad that runs behind Centennial Park and is the centerpiece of the 0.3 mile roadway that will connect neighborhoods while creating a better line of traffic from Metro General Hospital, Meharry Medical College and TSU to Centennial Medical Center, HCA and Vanderbilt.

The bridge deck required approximately 120,000 pounds of reinforcing steel and 62 truckloads of concrete. The concrete was placed over a three day period (April 26-28), approximately 11 months after Mayor Karl Dean and community leaders broke ground for the long-awaited connector on May 24, 2011.

Workers have continued to make progress on the bridge approaches, and have begun work on the traffic signals that will be needed for the new road. Work has also started on the transition of 28th Avenue between Charlotte Avenue and the Nashville and Western railroad crossing. 28th Avenue north of the track will remain a two-lane road.

Construction is on schedule for completion in September, 2012.

New Constuction Site Progress Photos January 2012

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A "Complete Street," the Connector will accommodate alternatives to car trips including new transit service, separate bike paths and wide sidewalks. The multimodal boulevard will include a public art component, and will run from Park Plaza to the south side of the Nashville and Western Railroad tracks.

28th / 31st Avenue Connector - Future View From Charlotte Pike

Public Art Project

Art work on the railroad bridge will enhance the appearance of the 28th/31st Avenue Connector. In addition, six artist-designed transit shelters will be constructed. The Metro Arts Commission solicited proposals from artists nationwide and has completed its selection process.

Artist David Dahlquist from Des Moines, Iowa has been selected to develop the artwork for the bridge and for two of the six transit shelters. Mr. Dahlquist plans to decorate the bridge railing using quilting as a meaningful metaphor for building community. The two transit shelters near the 31st Avenue bridge approach will extend this theme using giant needles to form a gateway to the Connector.

The other four transit shelters, to be located at the 28th and Charlotte intersection, will be designed by artist Kevin Berry from Phoenix, Arizona. The shelters will have a design directly inspired by iconic elements found in both Centennial and Hadley Parks.

Public Art 1 Public Art 2 Public Art 3

A public art workshop took place on Thursday, December 1, 2011, for members of the community to help create inspiration for public art to be displayed on the Connector Project. The workshop was held at Hadley Park Community Center.

More Public Art Information

28th/31st Connector Ground Breaking

Metro Public Works and its contractor Bell & Associates began construction of the 28th/31st Avenue Connector project following a groundbreaking ceremony on May 24, 2011.

28th -31st Avenue Connector Project 28th - 31st ave Connector Project

Project Team: Led by Metro Public Works Engineering Division, project team members include Metro Water Services Department, Metro Arts Commission, Metro Parks, Metro Transit Authority, Gresham Smith & Partners, Littlejohn Engineering Associates, CDM Smith Inc., and Bell & Associates. For additional information about the project, contact John Gregor, Metro Project Engineer with Public Works: 615-880-1661 or mailto:john.gregor@nashville.gov

Creating Connections Art Contest

This contest offered children at the Hadley and Watkins Community Centers an opportunity to explore their creative minds and engage in a large-scale community project. Metro Parks and Recreation and Metro Public Works staff members went to the Hadley and Watkins Community Centers and gave a presentation to the children by showing renderings of the new Connector and discussing the importance of the Connector in terms of social, economic, and environmental factors. The theme “Creating Connections” highlights the meaning of the new 28th/31st Avenue Connector for our city. Specifically, children artists worked with Metro Parks and Recreation staff and were asked to imagine what the 28th/31st Avenue Connector will look like, and why will it make Nashville an even better place to live, work, and play.

Judging and Prizes

3 winners each were selected from Watkins and Hadley Community Centers; 1 winner in each of the following categories for a total of 6. Each winner will receive a $25 gift card and art work will be on display at the 28th/31st Avenue Groundbreaking on May 24th.