Knoxville, TN – Knoxville has been awarded nearly $25 million in federal funding to advance the South Knoxville Pedestrian Bridge project, a long-anticipated initiative aimed at improving connectivity between South Knoxville and the University of Tennessee campus. The grant, valued at $24.7 million, is part of the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program, which supports infrastructure projects that promote sustainability and equity.
The bridge, which will span the Tennessee River, is designed exclusively for pedestrians and cyclists. It will connect the South Waterfront to the University of Tennessee’s Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. City officials say the project will provide “efficient, sustainable access” to critical services, jobs, and educational facilities while enhancing pedestrian and bicycle safety across the river.
Mayor Indya Kincannon expressed her excitement about the new funding, stating, “We are so excited to have secured the next round of funding to make the South Knoxville Pedestrian Bridge a reality.” She went on to highlight the importance of the bridge in improving access for South Knoxville residents, particularly those in lower-income neighborhoods, and the broader vision of connecting the community with the university and downtown Knoxville.
The RAISE grant will be paired with an additional $20 million in state funding, pushing the project closer to its goal of creating a $60 million pedestrian bridge. According to Kincannon, this combination of federal and state resources will help propel the project into its next stage of development.
Progress on the bridge project has been underway for some time. In March 2022, the University of Tennessee’s Board of Trustees, in collaboration with Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation, agreed to purchase land on the south bank of the river where the bridge will connect to the UT campus. The bridge is expected to improve both transportation and the quality of life in South Knoxville, an area that has long been underserved in terms of infrastructure.
University of Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman also spoke at a press conference celebrating the funding, calling the bridge a “valuable connection” between the university and the South Knoxville community. “It will provide a valuable connection between our vibrant campus, downtown and South Knoxville, benefiting our community and further enhancing the South Waterfront as an active place to live, work, and play,” Plowman said.
However, not all community members are fully on board with the project. Some critics argue that the funds allocated to the bridge could be better spent addressing issues like mental health or homelessness. Additionally, certain South Knoxville residents have raised concerns about the impact of the bridge on their community, especially on lower-income families who may feel displaced or overlooked as a result of development in the area.
Despite these concerns, UT President Randy Boyd, a South Knoxville native, expressed strong support for the project. Boyd sees the bridge as a potential catalyst for revitalizing the area, connecting the university with a historically underserved part of the city. “This is great for the city and the University of Tennessee,” Boyd said. “I grew up in South Knoxville. Sometimes I feel like that area of Knoxville — the Vestal community — is overlooked. I think this will be a great thing for that part of my hometown.”
While the federal funding brings the project closer to reality, additional details about the bridge’s timeline and final design have yet to be announced. The combined financial support from the federal government and state officials marks a significant step forward for a project that has been in the works for decades. City leaders remain optimistic that the bridge will improve South Knoxville’s access to education, employment, and recreational spaces while providing long-term benefits to the community.
