The northernmost miles of the Natchez Trace Parkway are cut off from the rest of it. The Double Arch Bridge over Birdsong Hollow has been closed to cars, cyclists and pedestrians since April 15, 2026. As of the National Park Service's October 30 update, the stretch between milepost 437 and milepost 440 is still closed for construction.
For anyone in Leiper's Fork, that changes the map in one specific way. The continuous parkway, the one you can ride or drive for an afternoon, now starts at the Highway 96 ramp. The village's own exit at Tennessee Highway 46 is nine mileposts south of that ramp. Most of the Trace still open to a long ride is now south of the village.
What the Park Service Says as of Oct. 30
The NPS Road and Site Status page lists the closure as "MP 437-440 - Closed for Bridge Construction" in Williamson County. Its timeframe runs from April 2026 through May 2027. The original April 10 news release said the bridge would reopen in "spring 2027." The park's posted timeframe now runs through May 2027, and it gives no specific reopening day.
The Park Service calls it a 7.5-mile detour. Its posted directions heading north toward the Northern Terminus at Highway 100 run this way:
- Exit the parkway at milepost 437. The ramp is on the right.
- Turn left onto Highway 96 West and travel 3.5 miles.
- Turn right onto Highway 100 East and travel 3.5 miles to the Northern Terminus.
Southbound runs in reverse. Take Highway 100 West beneath the Northern Terminus for 3.5 miles, turn left onto Highway 96 East for 3.5 miles, then turn right onto the parkway ramp.
That detour runs for the full length of the closure, and it decides where a trip on the parkway can start. Anyone coming down from the Highway 100 end has to leave the Trace. Anyone starting from Leiper's Fork never has to.
What the Work on the Bridge Covers
According to the NPS release, crews are installing a permanent pedestrian safety barrier to replace the temporary one now on the bridge. The new barrier is designed to be "more durable, effective and aesthetically pleasing," and the project also includes preventative maintenance and repainting the bridge.
"Visitor safety is our top priority. This project is an important step in ensuring the Double Arch Bridge continues to be a safe and welcoming place for everyone who visits the Natchez Trace Parkway." Superintendent Wendy Ross, in the NPS release
The structure itself is a landmark. Completed in 1994, it runs 1,572 feet and spans Birdsong Hollow at roughly 155 feet up. It was the first segmentally constructed concrete arch bridge in the United States. It won the 1995 Presidential Award for Design Excellence, and the Park Service considers it eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
NewsChannel 5 reported when the closure began that it would affect daily commuters, recreational visitors and cyclists. The Williamson Herald's coverage quoted former District 65 Representative Sam Whitson, who welcomed the Park Service's move to permanent barriers.
The Long Ride Now Starts at the Highway 96 Ramp
The Park Service's advice for cyclists is specific. For long day rides, park at the Highway 96 off-ramp parking area and ride south of milepost 437. That instruction makes the Highway 96 lot the top of the continuous parkway until the bridge reopens.
From that ramp, the Tennessee Highway 46 exit at milepost 428 is nine mileposts south. A Trace travel guide puts the village about one mile east of that exit on Highway 46. In practice, Leiper's Fork sits near the top of the open parkway. A rider parking at Highway 96 passes the village exit early in the ride. A rider starting from the village is already on the open section with no detour to drive first.
Garrison Creek, at milepost 427.6, is where the open section starts to fill with stops. It is where the trail system begins.
South of the Village, the Parkway Is Fully Open
As of October 30, the NPS status page lists no current trail or campground closures anywhere on the parkway. The Park Service's Garrison Creek page describes the stop as a trailhead for hikers and horseback riders on the Highland Rim Trail of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. That section runs 20 miles south to Tennessee Highway 50 at milepost 408, near the Gordon House. The site has horse trailer parking, an accessible restroom, potable water, a picnic shelter and a hitching post.
Distances below are measured from the Highway 46 exit at milepost 428:
| Stop | Milepost | Miles south of Hwy 46 exit | What the Park Service lists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garrison Creek | 427.6 | 0.4 | Highland Rim trailhead, horse trailer parking, restrooms, water |
| Burns Branch | 425.4 | 2.6 | Trailhead with vehicle parking; no trailer parking, not a horse staging area |
| Tennessee Valley Divide | 423.9 | 4.1 | Trailhead with parking designated for hikers |
| Water Valley Overlook | 411.8 | 16.2 | Sunset view |
| Baker Bluff Overlook | 405.1 | 22.9 | Sunset view |
| Swan Valley Overlook | 392.5 | 35.5 | Sunset view |
The table shows a split. Within about four miles of the village exit, there are three trailheads with three different parking setups. If you are hauling a horse trailer, Garrison Creek is the stop. Burns Branch is for cars only, and Tennessee Valley Divide is set aside for hikers. Farther south, the Park Service's sunset overlooks sit 16 to 35 miles from the exit. Those make sense as destinations for a late-afternoon drive this winter, while the bridge is off the itinerary.
Coming Off at Milepost 428
Riding or hiking from the village end means the finish is a mile from Old Hillsboro Road. Fox & Locke, at 4146 Old Hillsboro Road, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. According to Visit Franklin's listing, it hosts live shows Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and an open mic on Thursday. The same listing notes that the historic store, long known as Puckett's Grocery of Leiper's Fork, went back to its original Fox & Locke name in 2022.
For coffee, Visit Franklin's Leiper's Fork community page lists The RedByrd Coffee Shop among the village's dining choices. Leiper's Fork Distillery, at 3381 Southall Road, offers tours and tastings six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday, according to its Visit Franklin listing.
The next village date on the calendar is Pickin' Leiper's Fork on Friday, Nov. 13, from noon to 5 p.m. at PROPS, 4208 Old Hillsboro Road. Visit Franklin lists the 10th annual event as free and rain-or-shine, with vendors, music and food trucks. A morning at Garrison Creek and an afternoon on Old Hillsboro Road fit in one day without touching the detour.
What the North End Still Offers
The top of the parkway is not entirely closed. The Park Service says visitors can still drive from the Northern Terminus to Big Tree Overlook at milepost 440 and back. For a shorter ride, cyclists can park at the northernmost lot at milepost 442 and ride to Big Tree Overlook and back. That out-and-back covers about two mileposts each way and ends at the closure.
So while the work continues, the Highway 100 end offers a short out-and-back, and the Leiper's Fork end opens onto everything south. The Park Service's posted timeframe for the bridge runs through May 2027.
Changes like this bridge closure are part of the local detail Kate Giarratana follows for clients across Williamson County. If you're wondering how an estate or equestrian property near the Highway 46 corridor fits your plans, contact Kate for a private consultation or an instant home valuation.
