Milestone Achieved: Final Containment Tarps Removed from Walnut Street Bridge Restoration
CHATTANOOGA, TN — The restoration of the iconic Walnut Street Bridge has reached a visual and operational turning point. The final containment and painting tarp covering Span 1 has been officially removed, marking the end of major containment phases that have defined the bridge’s silhouette during recent months.
While minor touch-up painting remains in areas where containment structures were secured, the removal of the tarps signals the completion of large-scale painting operations and opens the way for the final stages of the project.
The restoration is a massive undertaking involving structural steel repair and a comprehensive overhaul of the bridge’s timber. Highlights of the progress include:
- Steel & Woodwork: Steel repairs are nearing completion. Crews are
replacing 95% of the bridge’s existing wood with Alaskan yellow cedar. - Decking Milestone: To date, 1,203 linear feet of decking—including the
roadway and both sidewalks—has been fully completed. This covers the
section above Coolidge Park, all of Span 6, and two-thirds of Span 5. - Utilities: With the new wood stringers in place, the electrical team has
begun securing conduits and utilities. The project is nearing the
installation of new light poles and the pulling of electrical wiring.
We are currently just over the halfway point for wood replacement. Approximately 1,166 linear feet of timber work remains across Spans 1 through 4 and the final portion of Span 5. The project remains on schedule, with a final completion goal of late September 2026.
About Department of Public Works:
The Department of Public Works delivers a variety of services that Chattanooga's citizens rely on daily. Responsibilities include the design, construction and maintenance of the City's infrastructure; the interceptor sewer system; the City's stormwater system; the collection and disposal of garbage, brush, recycling, and household hazardous waste; parks maintenance, programming and operations. Follow @CHAPublicWorks on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/CHAPublicWorks/>, <https://twitter.com/CHAPublicWorks>, and Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/chapublicworks/>.