Nashville International Airport Breaks Ground on New Parking Garage

NASHVILLE, TN — Mayor Megan Barry and officials at the Nashville International Airport turned over the ceremonial shovelfuls of dirt to formally break ground on a new parking garage, the first step in a $1.2 billion upgrade of the airport that could stretch across the next seven years.

The new garage, south of the existing short-term parking garage, will have 2,000 spaces. It will also be able to store 20,000 gallons of rain water, which can be used for irrigation and landscaping at the airport. An array of solar panels will be installed on the garage's roof, as well.

The garage is expected to open by the end of 2018.

It's the first project in the $1.2 billion BNA Vision plan.

BNA Vision will take five to seven years to complete. It includes expanded concourses, a renovated ticketing area and lobby, a new hotel and a station for potential light rail.

The project will also add an international arrivals building in an effort to boost the city's chances at its first transatlantic flight in more than two decades.

Image via Nashville Airport Authority