Knoxville City Council approves millions for pedestrian bridge project

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ( WATE ) — $20 million was designated toward the development of a pedestrian bridge over the Tennessee River near the University of Tennessee campus at the Knoxville City Council’s meeting on Tuesday.

Tuesday evening, the City Council voted to designate the funds to the Knoxville Community Development Corporation for the South Waterfront Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge . According to the agenda, the funds were requested by the administration.

The bridge would span across the Tennessee River from the concourse between Food City Center and the Pratt Pavilion at the University of Tennessee to Clancy Avenue in South Knoxville.

Just last month, the City also filed a renewed application for a $25 million RAISE Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Previously, the city applied for the grant in 2023 but was not selected.

Around six months ago, the Knoxville Community Development Corporation also purchased the land at 2323 W. Blount Avenue to construct the bridge on.

The South Waterfront Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge Project has been discussed for decades, with support growing for the bridge in the last few years. If the project is completed, it would connect the University of Tennessee’s campus with the 18-mile downtown greenway system as well as the more than 60-mile Knoxville Urban Wilderness Trail system.

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