08/04/2026
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On Saturday, August 1, 2026, Timothy Wedlock, a 58-year-old man from Australia, was killed while crossing 4th Avenue on Broadway. Three other pedestrians were injured in the crash. They were all crossing with an active walk signal when a driver ran a red light and struck them.
This heartbreaking incident is not isolated. Since 2019, there have been 541 motor vehicle crashes on Lower Broadway between 5th Avenue and 1st Avenue, 52 of which involved a pedestrian. These five blocks are particularly dangerous for pedestrians, who were involved in 6% of total crashes but account for 52% of the injuries.
Timothy Wedlock’s death adds to the alarming increase in pedestrian fatalities that Nashville has experienced in 2026. So far this year, 18 people have died while walking or biking in Nashville, a 29% percent increase compared to this time in 2025. Even more concerning, Nashville is the only city in Tennessee where traffic fatalities are increasing.
We know how to prevent these deaths. The time to act is now. We call on Mayor O’Connell and the Nashville Department of Transportation to work with the Tennessee Department of Transportation to close Lower Broadway to motorized vehicle traffic from 1st Avenue to 5th Avenue.
Studies have shown that pedestrianized streets increase safety, benefit local businesses, and provide health benefits for residents and visitors.
Extensive evidence from other cities also demonstrates that initial concerns regarding impacts on traffic and economic activity are unfounded. Traffic improves as drivers change routes or choose alternative modes, and businesses report increased revenues.
Lower Broadway has the highest pedestrian volumes in Nashville and ranks among the busiest pedestrian corridors in the United States, with over 16,000 pedestrians on an average day and up to 200,000 on weekends.
Since March of this year, temporary closures from 5th to 2nd have already been piloted on weekend nights, demonstrating safety and feasibility. It’s time to make these closures permanent and close Broadway from the 5th to the River.
