| Knoxville, TN (WOKI / Story courtesy of City of Knoxville website) – The Gay Street Bridge reopened to pedestrians and bicyclists on December 16, 2025 – on time and within budget.
The City invested more than $2.7 million to stabilize the bridge while also pursuing a $1 million Federal Highway Administration grant to study long-term options for possibly replacing the antiquated bridge with a modern new one. The Tennessee Department of Transportation had ordered the closure of the bridge in June 2024. A TDOT inspection revealed a compromised element, and two subsequent inspections pinpointed defects in the 127-year-old bridge. Motorized vehicles are no longer allowed on the Gay Street Bridge. |
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| NOVEMBER 10, 2025 |
| • Blalock & Sons files a new progress report – View Full Report [PDF] • 1,650 square feet of new concrete sidewalk has been poured and 176 lane feet of curb built at the north and south approaches • The latest work is aimed at making improvements to more efficiently and safely accommodate vehicles on Hill and Blount avenues and a limited number of bicyclists and pedestrians crossing on the bridge • Gay Street Bridge will reopen to bikes and pedestrians only by the end of 2025 |
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| OCTOBER 27, 28, 2025 |
| • Blalock & Sons files its latest progress report, shifting the focus to work reconfiguring the Gay Street Bridge’s north entrance (intersection of Gay Street and Hill Avenue) – View Full Report [PDF] • Project completion on schedule by Dec. 31, 2025 • Knoxville City Council authorized Mayor Indya Kincannon’s administration to amend two contracts necessary to reopen the Gay Street Bridge to pedestrians and bicyclists by Dec. 31, 2025. – View Press Release |
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| SEPTEMBER 22, 2025 |
| • Blalock & Sons files progress report and new images – View Full Report [PDF] • Prep work begins on bridge approaches • Newly installed structural steel painted • Minor repairs completed (missing bolts, etc.) • Project remains on track for Dec. 31, 2025 completion |
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| SEPTEMBER 11, 2025 |
| • City officials provide an update on Gay Street Bridge repairs – View Press Release or Watch Video below.
• The bridge remains on schedule to reopen to bicyclists and pedestrians by Dec. 31, 2025 |
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| SEPTEMBER 8, 2025 |
| • Blalock & Sons files progress report and new images – View Full Report [PDF] • Interior pin nuts in Span 4 were tack welded • Lacing replaced in Span 2 • Structural repair work completed on Aug. 29, 2025 • Project remains on track for Dec. 31, 2025 completion |
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| AUGUST 1, 2025 |
| • Blalock & Sons files progress report and new images – View Full Report [PDF] • Significant progress made repairing Span 2, work underway on Span 5 • Repairs expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2025 |
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| MAY 5, 2025 |
| • Repair contract finalized to reopen bridge for pedestrians and cyclists • Construction of repair barge is underway • Repairs expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2025View Latest Documents [PDF] |
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| FEBRUARY 12, 2025 |
| • City announces plan to ask City Council for $2 million to repair and reopen the Gay Street Bridge to pedestrians and cyclists. • Additional load rating analysis announced in hopes the bridge can also be opened to limited emergency and Knoxville Area Transit vehicles. • Estimated repair completion-early 2026.View Latest News Conference |
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| DECEMBER 30, 2024 |
| • Repair timeline and cost options under review. Public notice expected in early 2025. |
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| NOVEMBER 11, 2024 |
| • Design Consultant Gresham Smith has completed a drone inspection of the Gay St. Bridge and did not find any additional structural issues • In the meantime, the City is working to add delineators on the Henley Bridge to create protected bike/pedestrian lanes—work anticipated to be complete by mid-December |
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| ONGOING TRAFFIC MITIGATION EFFORTS DURING CLOSURE |
| To minimize any traffic flow issues the Gay St. Bridge closure might be causing, we are: • Updating KAT Routes in South Knoxville • Changing traffic light patterns • Working to increase scooter zones and other multi-modal improvements across the river |
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| SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 |
| City Council Supports Funding for Bridge Assessment and Repair Design A first reading budget amendment to add to the Capital Fund included $850,000 for Gay Street Bridge Repairs. The funds will be used to hire an engineering firm to provide professional analysis and design services specific to future repairs for the Gay Street Bridge. The amendment will go into effect after the second reading of the ordinance on October 1. |
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| AUGUST 12, 2024 |
| Bridge Will Remain Closed for Further Assessments The Tennessee Department of Transportation has completed its thorough inspection of the Gay Street Bridge, recommending that the bridge remain closed to all traffic until further studies can be done on the 126-year-old span. |
| TDOT Reports Released TDOT inspections started on June 25. Reports from inspections show a critical finding was discovered on span 2 right side. Inspection continued but was stopped at span 2 left side until a load analysis was performed. Permission was given to continue span 2 left side on July 1, 2024. Full inspection was completed on July 2, 2024. |
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| JUNE 25, 2024 |
| Gay Street Bridge Closed A routine Tennessee Department of Transportation inspection of the Gay Street Bridge revealed a compromised element, which out of an abundance of caution has led to a complete closure of the bridge to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. |
