Chattanooga delays Riverwalk bridge renovation; opens temporarily

Hamilton County officials said Friday that a renovated pedestrian bridge on Chattanooga’s Riverwalk will open temporarily for IRONMAN weekend, even though the project is still not finished. The bridge, near the Chattanooga Rowing Center, has been closed since October 20, 2025 for a six-month overhaul that missed its original reopening window by several weeks. Parks Director Matt Folz told WTVC that the section will be ready for IRONMAN participants this weekend, but final work remains before a full reopening to the public. The delay has extended detours for walkers and runners who use one of the Riverwalk’s most-traveled stretches. ### Which bridge is affected, and where is it? The bridge sits near the Chattanooga Rowing Center on the Tennessee Riverwalk, a trail system that city and county agencies describe as a major link for pedestrians, runners and cyclists along the river. Chattanooga’s Riverwalk page says the path runs roughly 16 miles along the southern bank of the Tennessee River, and Hamilton County Parks describes the Riverwalk as one of the park system’s most-used amenities. (newschannel9.com) Hamilton County and the City of Chattanooga jointly manage the broader Riverpark system, with the county overseeing some sections and the city overseeing others. The bridge now under renovation is on the Riverwalk section near the Rowing Center along Riverside Drive, according to city and local television reports. ### Why was the bridge closed in the first place? (chattanooga.gov) October 20, 2025 was the start date for the closure, which officials initially said would last about six months. WTVC reported at the time that Hamilton County officials had hired an engineer who concluded the bridge needed replacement work, and Folz said piecemeal board replacement was no longer enough. (parks.hamiltontn.gov) The renovation goes beyond decking. Folz told WTVC in October that crews were taking the bridge down to its supports, redoing railings and lighting poles, sandblasting and repainting components, reinforcing the structure and installing new boards. In April, Hamilton County Deputy Director Karen Shostak said safety needs, resurfacing, handrails and lighting were among the reasons the work was prioritized. (newschannel9.com) ### Why did the reopening slip past the original deadline? April 6, 2026 was the point when county officials were still saying the project appeared on pace for the six-month timeline. Shostak told WTVC then that the county did not see unforeseen challenges and was nearly done. May 15 brought a different update. (newschannel9.com) Folz told WTVC that contractor schedules did not align, and he said sealing and staining the boards and completing electrical inspections were still left to do. He added that he had “stopped giving dates out” because he wanted to make sure the county could meet whatever reopening date it announced. (newschannel9.com) ### Why open it now if the job is not complete? This weekend’s IRONMAN event is the immediate reason for the temporary opening. Folz told WTVC that the Riverwalk segment near the Rowing Center would be ready for IRONMAN participants, while the rest of the unfinished work continues afterward. WTVC’s site also listed a 3:19 segment on the temporary opening and reported that several Chattanooga roads will be affected by the running and biking portions of the race weekend. (newschannel9.com) The temporary access does not amount to a full reopening. Folz said the bridge is not yet ready to reopen to the public permanently, and the county is treating the weekend opening as a limited step tied to the event. ### How much is the project costing, and what is changing on the bridge? (newschannel9.com) October 2025 reporting put the project cost at more than $1 million, paid for with city and county bond funds. WTVC’s initial report described it as a $1.2 million repair project. Folz said Friday that some of the bridge’s mixed decking is intentional. (newschannel9.com) He told WTVC the county is testing a newer composite surface as a pilot to see whether it reduces slippery conditions, and he said the project has remained within budget. If the material performs well, he said it could be used on other Riverwalk sections. (newschannel9.com) ### When is the full reopening supposed to happen? Next Friday is the county’s current target for fully reopening the bridge to the public, Folz told WTVC on May 15, though he also cautioned that he did not want to overpromise on timing. That would put the full reopening roughly seven months after the bridge first closed on October 20, 2025. (newschannel9.com) Hamilton County Parks is expected to provide the next update as final sealing, staining and electrical inspection work is completed. For now, the bridge is set to be available for IRONMAN weekend before the county decides whether it can meet that next-Friday timetable. (newschannel9.com)