Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 2/12/16. Winified Foster, left, and her father David Foster navigate a closed section of sidewalk along Market Street on Friday, February 12, 2016. More Info
Where to walkTired of sidestepping traffic downtown? Here are some of the best places to walk in and around Chattanooga. › Walnut Street Bridge› Tennessee Riverpark› Stringer’s Ridge Park› North Shore, along Frazier Avenue› St. Elmo and the Guild Trail› Chattanooga Nature CenterSource: Outdoor Chattanooga
As workers erect scaffolding, renovate landmark buildings and weave bike lanes through the heart of the downtown area, Chattanooga is getting a rapid overhaul.
Hundreds of millions of dollars are being pumped into the city through both private and public investment, but development comes with its own headaches.
Pedestrians in some areas now have to navigate closed walkways by sidestepping chain-link fences and barricades that separate construction from traffic, either skirting the edges of roads or crossing streets entirely to get where they're going.
Garrett Blaising, a 22-year-old who lives downtown and often walks to work, said it's not that hard to cross the street when the sidewalk is blocked off, as it is in the 700 block of Market Street, but some sites have been under construction for months.
"The Yesterday's building has been the most frustrating, just because it's been three to four months and it doesn't seem like there's been much work happening," he said of the building at the corner of Georgia Avenue and Patten Parkway.
Blythe Bailey, Chattanooga Department of Transportation administrator, said his department works with developers to maintain public access, but he knows "there are probably some frustrations out there, because construction is inconvenient."
Some say the city has thrown up its own barriers to walkers by blocking off bicycle lanes on Broad Street and erecting high curbs that people on foot must cross to reach sidewalks and parking meters.
A pedestrian action plan the department kicked off last year is almost complete, and officials say it will help prioritize work to best serve a booming city. The department asked for input from the people who know Chattanooga's walkways the best, pedestrians themselves.
Walkers were encouraged to point out transportation and access problems throughout the city by identifying and describing them online on a map. No projects have been set in stone, Bailey said, but "adding a little sidewalk in a certain location that stitches together a huge network can be hugely impactful."
"We always have room for improvement," he said. But for Bailey, "Walkability isn't just a function of the availability of sidewalks, it's also a function of how our land use works."
A "walkable" city must have diverse businesses and attractions that are comfortable to walk to, and Bailey thinks Chattanooga has made significant progress in that area.
And while that progress continues, certain sidewalks remain shut down, much to the displeasure of some residents.
"There are definitely some areas in my everyday path that have been completely cut off by construction," Chelsea Conrad said.
Conrad, a Chattanooga native who has worked downtown for years, said it's great to see development, but wonders if there are alternatives to blocking off the entire sidewalk.
"I do wonder if there are simple ways to keep downtown accessible for pedestrians while that growth is happening," she said.
Adam Tate, a florist at Blue Ivy Flowers, also said he and the shop have been affected by construction, most significantly the ongoing project at the Yesterday's building.
"A few months ago, they parked a giant green Dumpster in front of our window," he said.
But for Tate, the inconveniences of construction are far outweighed by the benefits of living in a city he believes is trying desperately to make itself better for residents and visitors alike.
"I'm from Memphis and I feel pretty good walking around Chattanooga," he said. "You don't have that kind of security in Memphis."
Professionals and city officials echoed Tate's confidence in the city, saying construction is a sign of progress and that's a good thing.
Bob Doak, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he hasn't seen a serious impact from construction on tourism, and inconvenience to foot traffic is just a byproduct of development. To Doak, a couple of barricades and torn-up sidewalks are a small price to pay for a city with energy to move forward.
"I would much rather be in a city filled with cranes and sidewalks you have to walk around than be in a city filled with tumbleweeds," he said.
Contact staff writer Emmett Gienapp at egienapp@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6731.