Federal Funds Sought for New Downtown Bridge

In the not-too-distant future, Knoxville’s downtown waterfront could have a new bridge linking Southside neighborhoods to the University of Tennessee campus and downtown.

MPC planners recently helped the City of Knoxville’s Department of Policy and Redevelopment submit a grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation seeking funding for a South Waterfront Pedestrian/Bike Bridge.The bridge will span the Tennessee River, connecting South Knoxville’s proposed Riverwalk near Clancy Avenue to downtown Knoxville and UT at Thompson Boling Arena.

City officials see the bridge as an important link in the growing regional greenway network, joining the Fort Dickerson/Urban Wilderness Corridor on the south side of the river to the Neyland greenway on the north. And bigger-picture, the bridge will support key economic development goals for the region— providing access to jobs, improving connectivity, offering transportation options, and opening more opportunities for improved health.

"A project of this magnitude, in addition to its iconic design, would create a regional destination and attraction. By linking both north and south waterfronts, an opportunity arises for an increase in economic growth along the South Waterfront as well as an increase in recreational activity," said Dawn Michelle Foster, Deputy Director of the City’s Department of Policy and Redevelopment.

The City applied for funding through U.S. DOT’s highly-competitive TIGER program. This year, the seventh in program history, DOT will fund $500 million in projects across the country. To qualify, projects must be multi-modal, multi-jurisdictional, or otherwise challenging to fund from existing sources. In the past six years, DOT has funded 342 projects through the TIGER program.

Foster is very encouraged about widespread support for the proposed bridge. "We are excited about receiving many letters from various agencies that supported the City’s effort to pursue the grant. Letters streamed in from Congressman Jimmy Duncan and Governor Haslam to our regional and local greenway advocates.”

Plans for the pedestrian/bike bridge have been on the books for more than six years. If awarded, the $24 million dollar request will provide 80 percent of the total cost of the City’s bridge project. Officials expect to hear a funding decision this Fall.