Here's why the Gay Street Bridge is closed, and why crews don't know when it will open again
We now know why the Gay Street Bridge was suddenly closed this week, but we still don't know when it will be open again.
The 1,512-foot bridge is made up of straight, connected triangular pieces that support the heavy load. A routine annual inspection of the bridge revealed one steel piece is distorted and out of shape, Mark Nagi, a Tennessee Department of Transportation spokesperson told Knox News. The damage happened after last year's inspection.
That problem could eventually result in buckling of part of the bridge.
"(It's) a critical finding," Nagi said.
Officials still don't know when the bridge will be open for pedestrians and vehicles, and Nagi said more inspections are necessary before crews can figure out the next steps.
"TDOT will not allow any roadway/bridge to be open if we feel that it presents a danger to the motoring public," he said in a text.
Drivers traveling from the south side of the river to the north side can use the Henley Street Bridge as a detour. The James White Parkway also is an option to get between downtown and South Knoxville.
The bridge, built in 1898, has passed every inspection since 2004, and no closures have been required due to safety concerns.
Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why Knoxville's Gay Street Bridge was suddenly closed
