TDOT Acts to Improve Traffic Flow during Wilson County Fair

Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is gearing up for the heavy traffic expected on Tennessee roadways as the result of the Wilson County Fair, which begins today, August 17 and runs through August 25.

Very high volumes of traffic are expected to pass through the Wilson County area over the next week, affecting interstate highways, state routes and local roads in and near the Lebanon area. A team of local officials has been working to make sure traffic flows smoothly to and from the fairgrounds.

To aid that effort, TDOT will be closing the right lane of Interstate 40 West near Exit #239 (Watertown) Friday, August 17 and Saturday, August 18 as well as Friday, August 24 and Saturday, August 25. This will provide traffic traveling back towards Nashville easy access onto Interstate 40. TDOT will also provide message boards directing eastbound fair traffic to event parking.

“We want to make sure that the thousands of people who travel to this event aren’t sitting in traffic instead of enjoying the fair,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “The measures we are taking proved successful last year, and we are happy to offer these services again.”

TDOT will also be supplying several of its roadside assistance HELP units to patrol the area in an effort to keep any stranded vehicles from blocking traffic and to help travelers experiencing difficulties.

Last year, the Wilson County Fair drew more than 400,000 guests from as many as 20 different states.