The cost of restoration work for Chattanooga’s iconic Walnut Street Bridge has increased to about $52 million, city officials say.
In late March, about a year after the bridge closed to undergo extensive repairs, the city hosted a tour for local media to check out construction crews’ progress so far. At the time, officials said the project’s price tag was about $41 million, already up from the original cost of $35 million when Southern Road and Bridge was awarded the contract for the job. Now, due to the nature of the repairs, the cost is going up again.
“Just like an old home, the cost of repairs and maintenance goes up over time,” Stephanie Cepak, press secretary for Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly, said by email. “Structural elements that have been exposed to decades of moisture and sun must be replaced. The removal of a decayed piece of wood may reveal a decayed piece of structural steel.
“The team has worked hard throughout the project to absorb these increased costs in other parts of the budget, but we’re now at a point where if we want our iconic bridge reopened for our children to enjoy, we must make the decision to fund the completion of this generational achievement,” Cepak said.
No new funding in the 2027 budget is being requested at this time, Cepak said.