Chattanooga Announces Start of Walnut Street Bridge Renovation Project
Photo by James Trimble on Unsplash
In The Know with Gino!
On Sunday, May 26th, the city of Chattanooga officially kicked off the Walnut Street Bridge renovation project by placing a public advertisement for bids, as legally required. This marks the formal commencement of the project, although actual construction is slated to begin no earlier than March 2025.
The renovation, the first significant update to the bridge in over three decades, is expected to span 18 months. While the Walnut Street Bridge is currently safe for use, it is showing signs of wear and tear that surpass what can be managed through routine maintenance, potentially posing future safety risks if left unaddressed. The planned renovations aim to mitigate these risks, upgrade the bridge’s lighting, and resolve various electrical issues.
To minimize the impact on the community during the renovation, the city plans to add protected lanes on the Veterans Memorial Bridge and the Market Street Bridge to accommodate increased pedestrian and bicycle traffic. This initiative is designed to ensure smooth transit for residents and visitors while the Walnut Street Bridge undergoes construction. The addition of lanes on Market Street Bridge requires approval from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), which is currently pending. No such approval is needed for the Veterans Memorial Bridge.
Throughout the construction period, the Walnut Street Bridge will be closed to pedestrian traffic across the river. However, portions of the bridge will remain open as much as possible to allow the public to continue enjoying it as an outdoor space. Additionally, public art installations will be introduced to keep the area vibrant and engaging, fostering a sense of community and creativity.
To accommodate major Chattanooga events such as Ironman and the 7 Bridges Marathon, special access arrangements will be made for participants to use the Walnut Street Bridge.
Funding for the project will come from a mix of federal transportation grants and city hotel-motel tax revenues. The city has already allocated the necessary hotel-motel tax funds in recent budgets.
The city will keep the public informed about the project’s progress through press releases, social media updates, and the Walnut Street Bridge website. Residents can also sign up for text notifications by texting “WSB” to (423) 249-9181 and subscribe to email updates via the project’s website.
The tentative timeline for the Walnut Street Bridge renovation is as follows:
- May 2024: City of Chattanooga bid advertisement
- July 2024: Bid opening, review, and analysis
- August 2024: Bid selection, TDOT review, City Council award of contract
- September 2024: Execution of contract
- October 2024: Public notice and pre-construction work
- March 2025: Construction begins, alternate pedestrian routes opened
- Fall 2026: Construction completed
Chattanoogans can look forward to a safer, upgraded Walnut Street Bridge that continues to serve as a beloved landmark and vital connection within the city.
SOURCE: Chattanooga Pulse
