Improvements
Traffic Initiatives of the Venue
As soon as the 2021 concert season ended, the venue started to address traffic flow on site and as much as possible in the area. Traffic in the area was heavy even before the venue opened, but the goal of the improvements is to have the traffic run as smoothly as possible on concert nights despite the growing traffic issues every evening in the area.
Some of the improvement project objectives:
- Getting people off Lewisburg Pike (Highway 431) faster
- Creating a new traffic flow into and out of the venue
- Improving signage to let you know when there could be traffic delays
- Encouraging people to arrive earlier to stagger arrival times
- Upgrading parking management in the parking fields
- Getting people home faster
- Continued presence and access to emergency service
Getting people off Lewisburg Pike (Highway 431) faster
Venue plans are in the approval stages to double the capacity of the Harpeth School and Les Watkins roads which will allow twice as many cars to get off Lewisburg Pike at the same time.
An extra lane almost a mile long will be added from Lewisburg to the entrance of the amphitheater which should be completed midway through the 2022 conccert season, making it a three-lane road. With the new lane, south-bound and north-bound traffic on Lewisburg to each exit Lewisburg into their own lane. There will be one lane going the opposite direction for local traffic. Adding an additional lane will get cars off Lewisburg in approximately half the time it currently takes and back on Lewisburg at the end of the night.
Completed:
- Traffic study
- Civil Engineering Survey work
- Civil Engineering of road widening and Interchange at Hwy 431
- Construction approvals from Thompson’s Station, Williamson County & the State
- Construction of the Intersection
Getting people into and out of the parking fields faster with a new traffic flow
As soon as the first season ended, an additional lane was added to our internal exit road – so now there are 4 lanes into and out of the parking fields.
An additional entry and exit has been added. On entry, there will be two lanes each flowing into the parking fields from the North entrance and the Southern entrance can also be used to get cars into the parking fields faster.
On exit, each of the 4 parking fields will have their own exit lane. The North exit traffic will use one lane to turn right on Lewisburg Pike (431) and the South exit traffic will use the other lane to turn left to go South.
Planning for wet days, the parking fields now have gravel drive lanes to ensure easy access into and out of parking spaces and lots.
Completed:
- Added separate exit lane from the upper parking fields and created a second entrance and exit gate
- Parking field now have gravel drive lanes to facilitate easy travel even on wet days
Improving Signage to let you know when there could be traffic delays
Event Schedule
In addition to physical signage leading you to the site, the concert schedule is on the website at firstbankamphitheater.com, on the Live Nation website, on the Ticketmaster.com website, and we send the schedule to local newspapers, online portals, and magazines to get the word out about the dates of upcoming concerts. Watch our website and social media for the concert schedule as well.
Highway Signage
Six highway signs have been installed on 840, 840 exits and Lewisburg Pike (431). ALL of these signs direct people to stay on the main roads and not into private roads, back roads and adjacent neighborhoods for entry to the venue, which will continue to be the venue messaging in an attempt to combat GPS programs leading people through nearby neighborhoods and private roads. The venue is also working with mapping companies to mark private drives that show up as roads online as off route and not usable as the venue is made aware of them.
Lewisburg Pike (Highway 431) Traffic Sign
The venue continues to requested a temporary “Expect Delays” warning sign ahead of concerts. For the 2023 season, this request will hopefully be approved.
Highway 65 Venue Monument Sign
The marquee road way sign will let you know about the date of upcoming shows. We have proposed an easily update LED sign, which if approved in the future, would be able to alert passers-by on highway 65 of upcoming shows on a more real time basis for their planning purposes.
Completed:
- Six highway signs at major exits to facilitate traffic movement along major roads leading to the venue were installed.
- Updates on preferred traffic routing for Waze, Google Maps and Apple Maps.
- New larger and backlit traffic movement signage improves readability and visibility at night providing helpful information.
- Additional signage notifying people along Lewisburg of upcoming events has again been requested by the venue.
- Permanent solution dynamically updated to show concert information along Highway 65.
Encouraging people to arrive earlier to stagger arrival
The venue encourages guests to arrive early - It’s the best experience for a shorter drive time, less traffic, and easier parking. New beginning in the 2022 season, the venue built a Tailgate Snack Bar in the parking fields that serves Happy Hour with great food and drinks with our special culinary style. The parking fields open at 3 pm on a concert day so there’s plenty of time to arrive early and enjoy some food and beverages with friends and hang out.
Completed:
- Parking lot Tailgate snack bar building is completed.
Upgrading parking management in the parking fields
Beginning in 2022, the venue replace the parking company with one with the experience, staffing, and skills to improve the arrival and departure of guests. The venue has also added a Parking Manager who reports to the Venue Operations Director and will oversee and work closely with our third-party parking company to consistently implement best show day practices. He’ll also be tasked with collecting and implementing ongoing improvement ideas.
Completed:
- Hired venue Parking Manager who will oversee and partner with the parking company.
- Hired new parking company who has the experience, staffing, and skills to improve the parking experience.
Getting people home faster
In the Short term – Lewisburg Pike (431) intersection improvements
A merge lane will be added on the West side of Lewisburg Pike between Harpeth School Road North turn and the Highway 65 overpass. This will allow the two exit lanes to turn north in parallel then zipper merge on Lewisburg Pike heading north. The left turn lane on Lewisburg Pike is open and a great option for people heading South to Spring Hill or Murfreesboro.
Completed:
- Design work on the intersection completed.
- Plans approved.
- Merge lane construction completed.
A little longer term – The Summer 2023 Buckner Road Interchange/Highway 65 Exit
Currently under construction with an expected completion in 2023, the new Buckner Interchange at Highway 65 will deliver fast highway access heading South down Lewisburg Pike. Once this highway interchange project is finished, people will be able to exit the property faster than ever before. From the intersection of Harpeth School Road and Lewisburg Pike, heading North or South, Highway 65 is equally about 3 miles away. More information here: TDOT Buckner Road Interchange.
In Progress:
- Construction is underway on the Buckner Interchange.
- When the Buckner Interchange is completed this new traffic pattern will be implemented.
Continued presence of emergency service
Safety is and will always be a top priority. All local emergency services have contributed to and approved our plans and are in constant contact with the venue during concert season with regular calls and meetings.
Emergencies in the area
Emergency services are prepared and skilled at getting where they need to be even in heavy traffic. All emergency response departments across the County have our concert schedule, are on high alert on a show day, and have plans to get to neighbors in the event of an emergency. Additionally, the venue has a direct radio connection with County 911 dispatch service and is notified ahead of time if emergency services are headed in the direction of the venue where police traffic directors can be on high alert in expectation of emergency vehicles.
Emergencies at the venue
The
venue partners with Vanderbilt LifeFlight, medics, and an ambulance on site. Fire and police departments are on site, on area roads, and are intimately involved in every event that happens at the venue. The venue also has a direct radio connection with County 911 dispatch service so that all emergency services are in direct contact for the entire event.