Reimagining the Clarksville Pike Bridge
A Safer, Greener Connection for North Nashville
Written By Nia Smith with contributions from Eric Hoke and Remi Lynch
3 min read The Civic Design Center, with support from the Tennessee Department of Health, is reimagining parks, streets, and the Clarksville Pike Bridge to promote health and equity in Bordeaux and Haynes. This blog focuses on the design aspects of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge. Ideas for making Clarksville Pike safer include the Civic Design Center members’ from the 24 Resolutions for Nashville in 2024 blog, Nashville Youth Design Team Work, and Community engagement from Open Streets 2023 centered around North Nashville conversations.
Image showing Clarksville Pike and the MLK bridge’s expansive width
The Clarksville Pike Bridge, also known as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge, is more than just a crossing over the Cumberland River—it’s a vital connector between North Nashville and Bordeaux. Serving as a primary entry point into the city from the northwest, the bridge links directly to Trinity Lane, one of the most important east–west corridors in the area. Yet today, this gateway into Nashville falls short of serving the full needs of the community.
Unsafe and Overbuilt
Cross-section of the existing uses of MLK Jr Bridge
The bridge is currently unsafe for pedestrians and unfriendly to transit riders. In 1978, the Tennessee General Assembly approved a bond for the replacement of the Bordeaux Bridge to accommodate increased traffic. Officials named the replacement link the Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge. That new design has narrow sidewalks and six vehicle lanes, which promote high-speed traffic, making walking or biking across difficult and dangerous. The number of vehicular travel lanes far exceeds what is necessary.
A Vision for a Multimodal Bridge
Map showing the proposed upgrades to Clarksville Pike and the MLK Jr Bridge
To transform this space into a true community asset, we recommend a road diet that reduces the bridge to four vehicle lanes (two in each direction), while converting the inner lanes into bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors. These center-running BRT lanes would align with WeGo’s plans for future transit fleets, allowing for more efficient movement of people across the river. This proposed design encourages healthy behavior, prioritizing walking and biking as the preferred modes of transportation.
Section diagram showing proposal for Clarkville Pike
In order to promote safe, healthy, and active transportation, the Civic Design Center also recommends:
Dedicated pedestrian and cycling paths are integrated into the MLK Bridge infrastructure.
A greenway connection across the bridge to link into the proposed North Cumberland Greenway, giving residents safe, scenic access across the river (this could also be part of the above recommendation).
Shaded sidewalks with tree plantings, mitigating heat island effects, and making the corridor safer and more inviting for everyday use.
Image looking north west at the MLK Bridge, showing a perspective of how the greenway could be linked to the Clarksville Pike All Access Corridor through an elevated bridge connection.
A dynamic bridge design can prioritize walking and biking by creating safe, inviting pathways that encourage active transportation, while also strengthening the greenway network by linking key destinations such as Ted Rhodes Park, the Cumberland River Greenway’s northern trailhead, and the many nearby sports fields, creating a connected system that supports health, mobility, and community vitality.
Connecting to Health, Housing, and Community
Image looking up at the MLK Bridge from the Cumberland River Greenway
This corridor is not just a transportation route—it’s a lifeline to critical resources. To the south, the bridge connects directly to the new transit center, Vanderbilt’s clinic, and Urban Housing Solutions’ affordable housing residences. To the north, it leads to community anchors like the Bordeaux neighborhood center, the YMCA, the Bordeaux Branch Library, and local senior centers. Improving safety and accessibility here is about more than mobility—it’s about supporting health, equity, and opportunity for a wide range of residents.
Growth and Redevelopment
This vision also ties into broader efforts like the Big Bold Bordeaux Vision, a community-led initiative led by Vicki Harris that is reimagining the former County Hospital Road landfill site for new housing and redevelopment opportunities. Along Clarksville Pike, there is significant potential for riverfront residential development, balanced with preservation of existing single-family homes. Investments in home repair, energy efficiency upgrades, and green building initiatives can support current residents while new density along the riverfront brings vitality and commercial activity to the corridor.
Why It Matters
Image of the MLK Bridge looking from the Cumberland River Greenway
The Clarksville Pike Bridge is not just infrastructure—it’s a gateway into Nashville. With some of the best views of downtown as you travel south, the bridge has the potential to become a defining public space that reflects our city’s values: safety, sustainability, and inclusivity.
By reducing excess lanes, expanding multimodal access, and strengthening connections to health and community resources, we can ensure this corridor serves everyone—residents, commuters, and future generations.