City of Knoxville, TN
09/16/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/16/2025 18:43
Council Authorizes Gay Street Bridge Grant Request
Knoxville City Council tonight (Sept. 16, 2025) authorized Mayor Indya Kincannon's request to seek a $1 million Federal Highway Administration grant to study options for possibly replacing the Gay Street Bridge.
The bridge closed last summer after the first of three detailed inspections pinpointed defects in the 127-year-old bridge. Structural repairs to stabilize the bridge are nearing completion, but when the bridge reopens by Dec. 31, 2025, it will only be able to accommodate the weight of a limited number of pedestrians and bicyclists.
If the federal funds (with a $200,000 City local match) ultimately are approved by the FHWA, then bridge design specialists and City staff would develop concepts for a possible modern replacement bridge that would be able to support the weight of motorized vehicles.
In other business tonight, City Council also gave the go-ahead to Kincannon to move forward on three additional major projects:
• Conversion of a South Knoxville rail line into an art walk trail
• A Chapman Highway pedestrian safety project, and
• The next $4.2 million phase of Transforming Western
SoKno Rail Trail and Art Walk
City Council authorized Mayor Kincannon to enter into a trail use agreement with Knoxville & Holston River Railroad, a short-line railroad owned by Gulf & Ohio Railways that is headquartered in Knoxville.
Gulf & Ohio Railways owner Pete Claussen, in partnership with Legacy Parks Foundation and the City, is proposing to convert the rail line into a new 3.8-mile rail-to-trail greenway - which would include a privately-funded 1.5-mile-long art walk - as part of a federal rail banking agreement.
The greenway would run between Chapman Highway and Ijams Nature Center. Construction is scheduled to begin before the end of 2025.
Chapman Highway
Mayor Kincannon was also authorized by Council to execute documents necessary for the City to acquire 10 pieces of property needed for Chapman Highway safety improvements. The cost is estimated at $570,000.
This project includes a sidewalk along Chapman Highway, from the existing sidewalk near Young High Pike to the KAT bus stop north of Overbrook Drive. New pedestrian crossings will be constructed at the Woodlawn Pike and Overbrook Drive intersections, with connections to bus stops and a library.
The project is in the design stage, to be followed by right-of-way acquisition. Construction is expected to start in summer 2026.
Transforming Western
The City is committing $26.2 million over six years to the ongoing revitalization of Western Heights into a community with enhanced access to economic opportunities, healthcare, recreation, transportation and youth development.
Tonight, City Council OKed the latest City investment - $4.2 million for infrastructure work, including utility installation, grading, lighting, curbs and gutters, and road improvements.
The bridge closed last summer after the first of three detailed inspections pinpointed defects in the 127-year-old bridge. Structural repairs to stabilize the bridge are nearing completion, but when the bridge reopens by Dec. 31, 2025, it will only be able to accommodate the weight of a limited number of pedestrians and bicyclists.
If the federal funds (with a $200,000 City local match) ultimately are approved by the FHWA, then bridge design specialists and City staff would develop concepts for a possible modern replacement bridge that would be able to support the weight of motorized vehicles.
In other business tonight, City Council also gave the go-ahead to Kincannon to move forward on three additional major projects:
• Conversion of a South Knoxville rail line into an art walk trail
• A Chapman Highway pedestrian safety project, and
• The next $4.2 million phase of Transforming Western
SoKno Rail Trail and Art Walk
City Council authorized Mayor Kincannon to enter into a trail use agreement with Knoxville & Holston River Railroad, a short-line railroad owned by Gulf & Ohio Railways that is headquartered in Knoxville.
Gulf & Ohio Railways owner Pete Claussen, in partnership with Legacy Parks Foundation and the City, is proposing to convert the rail line into a new 3.8-mile rail-to-trail greenway - which would include a privately-funded 1.5-mile-long art walk - as part of a federal rail banking agreement.
The greenway would run between Chapman Highway and Ijams Nature Center. Construction is scheduled to begin before the end of 2025.
Chapman Highway
Mayor Kincannon was also authorized by Council to execute documents necessary for the City to acquire 10 pieces of property needed for Chapman Highway safety improvements. The cost is estimated at $570,000.
This project includes a sidewalk along Chapman Highway, from the existing sidewalk near Young High Pike to the KAT bus stop north of Overbrook Drive. New pedestrian crossings will be constructed at the Woodlawn Pike and Overbrook Drive intersections, with connections to bus stops and a library.
The project is in the design stage, to be followed by right-of-way acquisition. Construction is expected to start in summer 2026.
Transforming Western
The City is committing $26.2 million over six years to the ongoing revitalization of Western Heights into a community with enhanced access to economic opportunities, healthcare, recreation, transportation and youth development.
Tonight, City Council OKed the latest City investment - $4.2 million for infrastructure work, including utility installation, grading, lighting, curbs and gutters, and road improvements.
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City of Knoxville, TN published this content on September 16, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 17, 2025 at 00:43 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]