KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Gay Street Bridge was closed Tuesday after a routine inspection revealed issues with the structure.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation and city of Knoxville said the bridge will be closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic until further notice. TDOT said there will be a more detailed inspection of the bridge to determine what repairs are needed, at which point it can estimate how long the closure would last.
"We regret the inconvenience, but public safety is the absolute top priority for both TDOT and the City," Engineering Director Tom Clabo said. "Once the inspection is finalized, the City will proceed quickly with repairs. Knoxvillians can be assured that the bridge will continue to be safe once the deficiencies are corrected."
TDOT said an annual inspection revealed a "compromised element."
The city said the closure will not affect Tuesday's championship parade for the Tennessee Baseball team.
The bridge was built back in 1898 and is the oldest bridge spanning across the Tennessee River in Knoxville. In 2004, local, state and federal officials partnered on a $15.7 million project to improve the bridge.