The Walnut Street Bridge has served residents and visitors for many years, providing a scenic pathway across the Tennessee River. However, the passage of time, exposure to the elements, and heavy use have contributed to the natural wear and tear of the bridge's infrastructure. A recent comprehensive inspection has revealed areas of the bridge that need critical attention and repair, making renovation no longer an option but a necessity.
Walnut St. Bridge Repair
Walnut Street Bridge Improvements - Top 10 Accomplishments
- Full Surface Restoration & Coating: Sandblasted the structure down to bare metal and applied a three-coat protective system to preserve and extend the bridge's lifespan.
- Complete Structural Overhaul: Made targeted steel repairs, replaced deteriorated support I-beams, and installed 3.5 miles (18,500 ft) of post-tensioning cables across Spans 1–6 to maximize longevity.
- All-New Walking Surfaces & Framing: Fully replaced the pedestrian walkway support stringers, curb timbers, and wood decking across the entire span.
- Enhanced Lighting Architecture: Upgraded walkway and roadway illumination, added architectural lighting along upper spans and river columns, and improved lighting below in Coolidge Park.
- Modernized Electrical & Event Capacity: Replaced 62.5 miles (329,300 ft) of wiring, added event-ready electrical panels, and split service into four meters for lower operational rates.
- Improved Drainage & Environmental Protection: Installed new deck drainage across six spans to eliminate standing water and replaced protective bird netting throughout the steel framework.
- Upgraded Public Amenities: Added refreshed benches, planters with a modernized irrigation system, trash receptacles, and new dog waste stations.
- Enhanced Public Safety: Installed 15 security cameras above and below the bridge to expand continuous safety monitoring.
- Historic Detail Preservation: Restored original signage, recreated 12 replica Sun medallions, reinstalled historic nameplates in sequence, and added new interpretive pier signage.
- A Century-Plus Legacy Secured: Fully revitalized this 136-year-old icon, ensuring it stands ready to serve the community for the next 136 years.
Together, these improvements represent a major investment in preserving the Walnut Street Bridge as a historic landmark while ensuring it remains a safe, accessible, and vibrant destination for generations to come.
Project Timeline
This project has been completed.
Project Budget
Total Spent
- $57,369,093
- $53,306,774
Walnut St. Bridge Repair Images
Project Map
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FAQs
The city of Chattanooga is working to address safety and structural items along the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge. Correcting these items also provides an opportunity to freshen paint and lighting. The project includes structural steel repairs, repainting, new decking, new electrical, and new lighting.
Bridge users will not be able to cross the bridge entirely during the renovation while the contractor performs the work. However, users will be able to access certain parts of the bridge before or after renovations begin on those sections.
While the Walnut Street Bridge renovations are completed, the city will use the Market Street Bridge as a temporary detour route for pedestrian travel across the Tennessee River. This is the shortest route. The city will provide signage directing pedestrians to travel west on East 1st Street for two blocks to Market Street.
A second route will be available across the Veterans Bridge.
The City of Chattanooga is committed to maintaining the most effective communication with our residents, business stakeholders, commuters, media outlets, emergency services, and the general population. Community members can receive updates by signing up on our website at walnutstreetbridge.com.
The city will also post timely updates to inform the public on social media, the city's mobile app, and in print, with additional help from media outlets and public text notifications throughout the duration of construction.
There are several events that use the bridge. The contractor will halt work and make the bridge crossable for these iconic events, to include the following:
Chattanooga Marathon [March], Ironman 70.3[May], Riverbend and Riverbend Run [May], Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon [June], Moon River Festival [September], Ironman [September], 7 Bridges Marathon [October], and Head of the Hooch [November].
The plaques will be pulled up, kept in a safe place, and returned in the new wood before completion of the bridge renovation..