KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ( WATE ) — The City of Knoxville is taking steps toward repairing the Gay Street Bridge after it was closed indefinitely in June.
The closure was announced after TDOT crews found a “corrupted element” during a routine inspection. Though there’s still no estimated reopening date, Knoxville City Council passed a budget amendment ordinance to add $850,000 to its annual budget to hire an engineering firm that will determine the extent of the damage and make a plan for repairs.
The city owns the bridge and is responsible for funding the repairs. Since the closure, many South Knoxville residents have had to alter their daily commute.
Businesses feel impact of Gay Street Bridge closure as city awaits inspection report
“We used to take the bridge right across just to get to campus everyday, and we no longer can do that,” Ashleigh Scheuerle said. “Due to all the new apartments they’re building, we have to take the other bridge and we experience probably twice as long a commute as we would’ve if we had just taken the bridge that’s currently closed down.”