The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has completed a thorough inspection of the Gay Street Bridge and recommended that it remain closed to all traffic until further studies can be conducted on the 126-year-old structure.
“This is not the news we all hoped for,” said Mayor Indya Kincannon. “But we agree with the recommendation, as safety must be our number one priority.”
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“We know this closure is an inconvenience for many. That is why we are working as quickly as possible to conduct further assessments to determine the cost and time of repairs. Rest assured, if there are interim measures which would allow us to safely reopen the bridge to pedestrians while the repairs are being made, we will do so,” Mayor Kincannon added.
TDOT engineers have emphasized that this type of truss bridge lacks redundancy in its structure to bear the load if any element fails. Consequently, the City is collaborating closely with TDOT and has hired an engineering consultant to develop a repair plan.
The City will not have a cost estimate for the repairs or an estimated construction timeline until the consultant’s recommendations are finalized.
TDOT’s inspection reports can be found at www.KnoxvilleTN.gov/GayStBridge.
The deficiencies were uncovered during a routine TDOT inspection of the Gay Street Bridge in late June, prompting a complete closure of the bridge to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Built in 1898, the 1,512-foot-long bridge is the oldest spanning the Tennessee River in Knoxville. It features five pin-connected steel arched cantilever trusses and two truss approach spans on granite foundations.
Source: Read Original Release
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