Glass Holmberg pedestrian bridge repairs mount: Chattanooga seeks solutions for landmark

The City of Chattanooga is exploring a new material for the walkway of the Holmberg Bridge, which connects the Bluff View Arts District to Walnut Street. Since it’s construction in 2005, the city has spent at least $5,000 a year on repairs to the glass walkway. Recent repairs topped $10,000.

Looking this good isn’t cheap.

The Holmberg pedestrian bridge, an architectural gem along the city’s riverfront, is proving to be a continual drain on the city’s maintenance budget.

The glass bridge connects the Bluff View Art District with Walnut Street. But since the $1.6 million bridge opened in 2005, it’s racked up at least $5,000 a year in glass panel repairs, said Lee Norris, Chattanooga’s director of public works. In 2007, the city shelled out about $25,000 to fix seven panels, according to newspaper archives. And this year, the city spent about $10,000 on repairs.

Now city officials are meeting with the bridge’s original architect to explore a more durable material for the walkway, which is covered with several layers of laminated glass.