Natchez Trace Parkway gets permanent safety barrier; Double Arch Bridge closes during construction

A 3-mile stretch of the Natchez Trace Parkway, including its iconic Double Arch Bridge, will soon close for roughly a year.

The National Park Service says the closure is to add a permanent pedestrian safety barrier.

Dozens of people have died by suicide at the 32-year-old bridge. In 2019, reporting by The Tennessean drew increased attention to the dangers. There were 32 deaths between 2000 and 2019.

During construction, the bridge will be closed to drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, and there will be a 7.5-mile detour between Big Tree Overlook (milepost 440) and the Highway 96 off-ramp (milepost 437). The closure starts Wednesday and will continue into early next year.

The Double Arch Bridge was built in 1994 and spans more than 1,500 feet at a height of roughly 155 feet. Its design has been honored for its type of segmented concrete construction.

Natchez Trace Bridge barrier comes after years of waiting by mental health advocates, families