KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The City of Knoxville is moving forward with its plan to build a pedestrian bridge in South Knoxville after facing questions about federal grant funding.
The city received a $24.7 million federal grant in January 2025 for the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Tennessee River. However, in May, city leaders faced “uncertainty” around the grant after receiving a letter from the Department of Transportation as the Trump Administration began efforts to cut federal funding.
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At the end of June, city leaders received an email from an engineer with the Federal Highway Administration’s Tennessee division congratulating them on being awarded the grant. He then explained that he was reviewing the details of the project and hoped to set up a kick-off meeting with city staff to discuss the project and the grant process.
A city spokesperson told 6 News that they are proceeding with finalizing the grant contract, and once this is done, a timeline for the project will be put in place…