Gay st bridge
7 things to understand about Knoxville's Gay Street Bridge now that it won't reopen to cars
After months of uncertainty following the sudden shutdown of downtown Knoxville's historic Gay Street Bridge last summer, drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians finally have an answer: The bridge will be closed forever to regular drivers.
Mayor Indya Kincannon announced Feb. 12 that fixing the year-old bridge would be too expensive because the damage is so severe.
On the bright side, officials are working on a way to open the bridge to pedestrians and cyclists by the end of or early if the Knoxville City Council approves in March the up to $2 million needed for repairs.
The bridge supported about 7, vehicles a noun when it was open. With the Gay Street Bridge out of commission, car and bike traffic has increased on the Henley Street Bridge that crosses the river several blocks west. Crews installed hard plastic delineators and lush bike lane markings on the Henley Bridge to separate cars from bikes.
Here's what to know about the Gay Street Bridge:
Why is the Gay Street Bridge closed in Knoxvi Gay Street Bridge to remain permanently closed to vehicles due to structural damage
Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon announced on Wednesday the historic Gay Street Bridge, which spans the Tennessee River connecting North and South Knoxville, will never reopen to regular vehicular traffic due to the price of repairs. City officials will, however, vote on a $2 million repair plan in March that would make the bridge safe for pedestrians and cyclists.
“We were hoping we could restore it back to its regular loads, and that is not workable because of the wear and tear after years,” Kincannon said. “It's been something that the people of Knoxville have used to cross the Tennessee River since , and so we are eager to reopen it to the capacity we can.”
The bridge was closed abruptly last June after a routine inspection discovered a distorted steel beam in its superstructure, which supports the deck. It’s been barricaded ever since as the Knoxville City Council allocated nearly $1 million to settle engineering firm Gresham Smith to inspect damages and estimate repair costs.
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Gay Street Bridge to remain permanently closed to vehicles due to structural damage
Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon announced on Wednesday the historic Gay Street Bridge, which spans the Tennessee River connecting North and South Knoxville, will never reopen to regular vehicular traffic due to the price of repairs. City officials will, however, vote on a $2 million repair plan in March that would make the bridge safe for pedestrians and cyclists.
“We were hoping we could restore it back to its regular loads, and that is not workable because of the wear and tear after years,” Kincannon said. “It's been something that the people of Knoxville have used to cross the Tennessee River since , and so we are eager to reopen it to the capacity we can.”
The bridge was closed abruptly last June after a routine inspection discovered a distorted steel beam in its superstructure, which supports the deck. It’s been barricaded ever since as the Knoxville City Council allocated nearly $1 million to settle engineering firm Gresham Smith to inspect damages and estimate repair costs.
According to
.
.