KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The city of Knoxville announced new renderings of the proposed South Knoxville bike and pedestrian bridge. In these renderings, an orange arch goes over the river and bridge.
The city recently submitted a new application for $25 million in federal funding. The plan calls for the bridge to connect the South Knoxville Waterfront with the University of Tennessee campus. It would span from Clancy Avenue on the south side to the pedestrian concourse on the north, located between the Food City Center and Pratt Pavilion, the city said.
The bridge is seen as an investment to support connectivity to UT and downtown. The pedestrian-bicycle bridge will provide access to jobs, services, work and school while maintaining pedestrian and bicycle safety across the river.
In October 2023, the city announced they purchased land at 2323 West Blount Avenue, the primary property needed to build the bridge. According to the city, buying the West Blount Avenue property allowed the construction of the pedestrian bridge and surrounding mixed-use development.
Once the project is finished, it will connect 18 miles of greenways, more than 50 miles of Urban Wilderness, Volunteer Landing and the South Knoxville Riverwalk.