When I saw that the Walnut Street Bridge was getting a major renovation there was initially a rush of excitement. With the bridge standing as a major symbol for our city it is important that the bridge be in presentable condition and showcase Chattanooga in an effective way. Then I saw the schedule and couldn't stomach the thought of losing the bridge for effectively two years. It is such a privilege to live in a city with such a bridge but it seems we have taken it for granted. Alas, it is time to make some sacrifices in our leisure time to make repairs.
One thing I can’t wrap my head around though is the timing of the repairs. When I checked the most recent article published on the matter it said the bridge would be fully closed for repairs starting March 17, 2025 and return to service in September 2026.
First let's assume that the current schedule holds with no delays. Keeping with the March 17 date, and assuming September 2026 means Sept. 30, 2026, that means the project is expected to take approximately 562 days to complete.
Next, let's think about the optimal time for the bridge to be closed for 562 days to minimize the impact on local businesses. With the proposed schedule we are going to lose two summers worth of bridge traffic. I think it is safe to assume that summer is the peak season for those businesses located around the bridge. So taking two summers worth of revenue away from them will be very hard to sustain.
What if we shifted the dates to where we lost two winters instead of two summers? By using the same number of days for completion, we could start the project in Fall of 2025 (Say Sept. 1, 2025) and end around Spring of 2027 (approx. March 17, 2027). This would give the businesses their peak season back for 2025 and add some flex into the schedule such that the bridge can be open for Summer peak 2027.
I say all this with humility and hopefully someone can point out any holes they see in my proposal. I also understand that some of this may be driven by federal budget mandates. (i.e. Money needs to be spent by the end of calendar year 2026) If that is the reason for the current proposed schedule then it is very understandable but if not I would be curious as to what was the driving force behind the proposed schedule.
I know that all Chattanooga's will benefit from this upgrade and I can’t wait to see the finished project. My appreciation to all those who will work on the project over the coming years.
Austin Moore
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I could be wrong on my assumption, but I would say the official start date is based on taking advantage of the late spring, summer and fall months where construction conditions would be more ideal. Winter outdoor working conditions in Chattanooga are a crapshoot at best, so I’m not sure how much progress would be made during the winter months regardless.
Just my two cents worth, maybe one.
Chris Morgan