Knoxville, Tennessee is highlighting the importance of safety, economic benefits, and environmental impacts of a $70 million pedestrian bridge over Fort Loudoun Lake linking South Knoxville and the University of Tennessee campus in a federal grant application.
The hopes are to secure $25 million in funding for the project from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
According to the City of Knoxville, the bridge would go from Clancy Avenue on the south side to the pedestrian concourse on the north located between Thompson-Boling Arena and Pratt Pavilion.
The car-free span will spur development in areas that have largely been industrial, says the city. It will also encourage bike usage and reduce vehicle traffic on nearby Chapman Highway in South Knoxville. It's estimated at a reduction of 4,033 vehicles per day.
"The pedestrian bridge will equitably connect underserved communities north and south of the river to ethnic markets, larger grocery stores, churches, parks, greenways, and additional transit and active transportation choices that also connect to other areas of the city," the city states in its grant pitch.
Overall, the bridge will raise the area's quality of life. It'll also install an iconic structure on the city landscape, the application states.
The estimated price is $70 million, but that could change.
"The remainder of the project cost will be funded with state or local funds," according to a city information site.
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Source: MSN.com
