Tennessee Bridges
Tennessee’s bridges are an integral part of its infrastructure, connecting major cities and towns dotted along the Mississippi and other waterways. The Magnolia State is especially endowed with miles of coastline to the east and the Mississippi River skirting over its western border. It’s a state brimming with stunning nature and culture, not least its magnificent bridges.
Tennessee is home to more than 10,000 bridges and overbuilds, many of them connecting locations along the mighty Mississippi. In western Tennessee, there are 25 bridges that span the river, the greatest concentration of Mississippi bridges in the state. Tourists, residents and commuters alike rely on these bridges to get to and across the river. They also form landmarks on the state’s skyline, and in some of the bigger cities (Memphis, Nashville, and Chattanooga) even serve as icons of the local architecture and culture.
The most iconic of these 25 bridges is undoubtedly the Hernando de Soto Bridge marking the entrance into the city of Memphis. It’s one of the longest structures of this type in the world and is, according to some estimates, the most photographed bridge in the US, renowned for its reputation as a place for civil rights protesters to make a stand. But the de Soto Bridge has plenty of company in Tennessee, with smaller bridges across the lesser rivers like the Hatchie, Wolf River, and the Obion, and further north in the state’s smaller towns like Shiloh and Corinth.
In more recent decades, authorities have added bridge-building infrastructure and materials to accommodate Tennessee’s growing population. The Turtle Creek Bridge, built in the 1970s, spans the Cumberland River in Nashville, while the American Legion Bridge at the mouth of Reelfoot Lake offers a shorter route to travel between the cities of Cobb and Martin. Each of these bridges has an interesting backstory, demonstrating the ingenuity behind the development of these modern structures.
Design of Bridges
Many of Tennessee’s bridges are ascribed to one of two main designs. The bowstring and wire-cable designs are a Nashville staple thanks to well-known architects like Edwin Humphreys and Calvin M. Young. Humphreys designed the Cumberland River Bridge, for example, and the concurrent construction of several wire cable bridges in Chattanooga between the 1920s and 1950s. These structures are used today to help keep Tennessee’s towns and cities well connected.
The newer truss designs, meanwhile, employ lightweight designs, with the most notable being the Natchez Trace Parkway bridge, built in the mid-1990s. This structure has become a signature Memphis landmark, standing as a symbol of the city’s progress in a new century. This bridge was also the first of its kind to be built on the Parkway, designed to accommodate the 65,000 vehicles that use it every day.
Tennessee also has a few notable bridges deemed as landmarks for their historic significance. The site of the 1877 Battle of Shiloh is home to Shiloh Bridge, a wooden structure that dates back to the early 1800s. The Wolf River Bridge in Collierville is a stunning steel truss structure first built in 1893. And, of course, the Great Smoky Mountains Parkway bridge is a stunning snow white steel truss bridge that stands at the edge of one of America’s most beautiful national parks.
Inspection and Maintenance
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is responsible for the inspection, maintenance, and upkeep of the state’s bridges and overbuilds. All bridges are subject to regular evaluations to ensure they meet modern safety standards and are fit for purpose. In Memphis, the TDOT has committed to investing in new bridge technology and materials, allowing bridges like the de Soto to remain vibrant for years to come.
In addition to regular inspections, TDOT also conducts additional surveys every five or ten years to identify any potential structural weaknesses. These reports, which include visual inspections from the water and ground, allow engineers to identify and fix any potential issues before they become serious. Reports are then shared with the public so they can have the most up-to-date information.
Pursuant to the movement for environmental conservation, TDOT has sought to use recycled materials for much of its bridge work in recent years. This has resulted in the increased use of ‘green’ materials in many of the state’s bridges. These materials can last up to 80 years before needing to be replaced, allowing the state to cuts costs while also putting less strain on the environment.
Knoxville Bridges
Along the Tennessee River, there are numerous bridges joining Knoxville to the rest of the state. These bridges include the Gay Street Bridge, the Henley Bridge and the legendary Suttree Landing Bridge. The Gay Street Bridge is the longest bridge in the state and it has been used extensively to move freight and supplies from the northern parts of the state to the south. The Henley Bridge is the oldest bridge in Knoxville, built in 1889 and still functioning today.
Finally, the Suttree Landing Bridge is easily the most iconic of the Knoxville bridges. Named for James Suttree, the first person to live in Knoxville, it has become a symbol of the city itself. It was originally built in 1859 and today is a tourist attraction in the city, with its elaborate design and picturesque location.
Aside from the major bridges there are numerous other bridges that cross the Tennessee River and its smaller tributaries. These include the Henley Street Bridge, the Church Street Bridge and the Gay Street Bridge, all of which offer vital links between the city and other nearby locations.
Safety
Tennessee’s bridges are generally very safe with few major accidents in recent years. The state Department of Transportation works hard to ensure the highest possible standards of bridge safety, and regular maintenance and inspections help to reduce the chances of any major collapses. Although TDOT is always looking to bring in new safety measures, the majority of Tennessee’s bridges are as safe as any in the country.
In particular, newer bridges have seen vast improvements in safety, as engineers have begun to incorporate modern technological innovations in bridge engineering. More sophisticated sensors and robotic systems have meant fewer accidental collapses in the last few years, and the TDOT is looking to pioneer the use of such tech to keep the bridges of Tennessee as safe as possible.
Bridge safety is a crucial part of public policy, and Tennessee does well in this respect. Regular inspections, maintenance, and information about the state of the bridges is readily available online and in local papers, and TN also dedicates a large budget to bridge safety maintenance and upgrades.
Modernization
The aging bridges of Tennessee are slowly being renovated and replaced with newer bridges that take advantage of more advanced materials and techniques. This process is not always straightforward as each bridge comes with its own unique set of challenges and engineering problems. However, in many cases, these have been successfully overcome and the new bridges are a major improvement on the former.
One of the most significant projects for bridge renovation in recent times is the de Soto Bridge signalization project, which is transforming the bridge into one of the most advanced signalization systems in the world. This work will eventually add two signal sites and two signal lights to the bridge, as well as a signalized crosswalk system at the bridge’s entrance. This is just one example of how Tennessee is continuing to modernize its bridges and make them more efficient and up to date.
The modernization process also means that Tennessee can keep up with the demands of its growing population. With larger amounts of traffic, bridges need to be able to accommodate the increased weight and stress associated with that. To do this, engineers must design bridges that are built for the purpose and use sturdy materials in their construction.
Conclusion
Tennessee has an abundance of bridges of all shapes and sizes that span across the state’s many rivers and waterways. The most iconic of these bridges is the Hernando de Soto Bridge, which has become an iconic landmark for the Memphis skyline. However, Tennessee also boasts some lesser known bridges, all of which have their own fascinating stories to tell. The state also strives to use only the most advanced materials and techniques in bridge maintenance, ensuring they are as safe as possible.
