The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) will begin construction this month on a new bridge over Wilbur Dam Road in Carter County, Tenn. The project aims to improve safety and reliability for vehicles traveling over Wilbur Reservoir and ensure continued access to the Watauga Dam recreation area.
The existing bridge, originally assembled in 1942 from a repurposed railroad bridge dating back to the 1890s, is load-restricted and requires annual inspections.
The new bridge will be built adjacent to the current structure before its removal to minimize disruptions to residents and visitors, TVA officials said.
“This investment in a new Wilbur Dam Road bridge will ensure safe and reliable access for recreation around the Watauga Dam area for many years to come, supporting the local economy through ongoing recreation visitors,” TVA said in a statement.
The new bridge will also be designed to accommodate large-scale hydro-maintenance equipment necessary for maintaining the clean-energy-producing dam.
TVA previously conducted an environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act, including public input sessions and consultations with regulatory agencies such as the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
During construction, TVA said residents and drivers can expect occasional lane restrictions and heavy equipment traffic.
TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider, serving over 10 million people in seven Southeastern states while supporting economic development and energy reliability through infrastructure investments.
Source: WJHL News, Elizabethton Star
