Henley Street Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Henley Street Bridge, or Henley Bridge, is a vehicle bridge
that crosses the Tennessee River
in Knoxville, Tennessee
. Completed in 1931, the 1793 feet (546.5 m) bridge is one of four vehicle bridges connecting Downtown Knoxville with South Knoxville
, the other three being the Gay Street Bridge
, the Buck Karnes Bridge (Alcoa Highway), and the South Knoxville Bridge. The bridge carries U.S. Route 441
, which is known as "Henley Street" in downtown Knoxville and "Chapman Highway" in South Knoxville.
The bridge and its associated street are named for Colonel David Henley
, a Revolutionary War
officer and War Department
agent stationed in Knoxville in the 1790s.
s, and has a total width of just over 70 feet (21.3 m) and a curb-to-curb width of just over 54 feet (16.5 m).
-based Marsh Engineering Company
, which was led by long-time bridge engineer James B. Marsh (1856–1936).
Throughout 1930, Knoxville's city council, various local engineers, and the Knoxville News-Sentinel argued relentlessly over the bridge, bickering with one another over everything from the bridge's size to the construction materials to be used. One councilman charged that bribery had taken place. Furthermore, rather than allow Marsh Engineering to choose its own construction supervisor, the city installed local engineers L. M. Dow and S. B. Goodsey as supervising engineer and resident engineer, respectively, and made numerous modifications to Marsh's design. Work finally began on September 30, 1930, with Pittsburgh
contractor Booth and Flinn
overseeing construction. Knoxville and Knox County
split the cost of the bridge.
The completion of the Henley Street Bridge roughly coincided with the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
, and the bridge became for Knoxvillians the "gateway" to the Smokies (US-441, which crosses the bridge, is still the main route connecting Knoxville with the park). Since 1987, the bridge has also been the primary fireworks launching area during Knoxville's annual Boomsday
celebration.
In recent years, the Tennessee Department of Transportation has deemed the Henley Street Bridge structurally deficient, and has pegged the bridge for a major rehabilitation project that will begin in 2011. The project, which will cost an estimated $30 million, will involve replacing the bridge's deck and several other structural components. The new deck will contain five traffic lanes and two bicycle lanes, and sidewalks. The bridge is expected to be closed for as long as three years until the rehabilitation work is completed.
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
that crosses the Tennessee River
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. Completed in 1931, the 1793 feet (546.5 m) bridge is one of four vehicle bridges connecting Downtown Knoxville with South Knoxville
South Knoxville
South Knoxville is the section of Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, that lies south of the Tennessee River. It is concentrated along Chapman Highway , Alcoa Highway , Maryville Pike , Sevierville Pike, and adjacent roads, and includes the neighborhoods of Lindbergh Forest, Island Home Park, Old Sevier,...
, the other three being the Gay Street Bridge
Gay Street Bridge
The Gay Street Bridge is a vehicle bridge that crosses the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tennessee. Completed in 1898, the bridge is the oldest of four vehicle bridges connecting Downtown Knoxville with South Knoxville, the other three being the Henley Street Bridge, the Buck Karnes Bridge , and...
, the Buck Karnes Bridge (Alcoa Highway), and the South Knoxville Bridge. The bridge carries U.S. Route 441
U.S. Route 441
U.S. Route 441 is a spur route of U.S. Route 41. It currently runs for 939 miles from U.S. Route 41 in Miami, Florida to U.S. Route 25W in Lake City, Tennessee. Between its termini, US 441 passes through the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee...
, which is known as "Henley Street" in downtown Knoxville and "Chapman Highway" in South Knoxville.
The bridge and its associated street are named for Colonel David Henley
Colonel David Henley
David Henley was a Continental Army officer during the American Revolutionary War, who served as George Washington's intelligence officer and Prisoner of war commandant...
, a Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
officer and War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
agent stationed in Knoxville in the 1790s.
Design
The Henley Street Bridge is a reinforced concrete open-spandrel arch bridge with six dual-ribbed arches connected by lateral bracing. The lengths of the arches are (from north to south) 203 feet (61.9 m), 232 feet (70.7 m), 317 feet (96.6 m), 232 feet (70.7 m), 220 feet (67.1 m), and 185 feet (56.4 m). The deck consists of six concrete girderGirder
A girder is a support beam used in construction. Girders often have an I-beam cross section for strength, but may also have a box shape, Z shape or other forms. Girder is the term used to denote the main horizontal support of a structure which supports smaller beams...
s, and has a total width of just over 70 feet (21.3 m) and a curb-to-curb width of just over 54 feet (16.5 m).
History
In the late 1920s, Knoxville developed a new city plan that called for, among other things, the widening of Henley Street and the construction of a 54 feet (16.5 m) bridge connecting the street with South Knoxville. The city initially hired J. E. Griner and Company of Baltimore, but after the company insisted that a 36-foot width was adequate, the city rejected their design. In April 1930, after intense debate, the city selected a design submitted by the Des Moines, IowaDes Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
-based Marsh Engineering Company
Marsh Engineering Company
The Marsh Engineering Company was a company that designed many significant bridges in the United States, including 7 that survive and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was located in Des Moines, Iowa....
, which was led by long-time bridge engineer James B. Marsh (1856–1936).
Throughout 1930, Knoxville's city council, various local engineers, and the Knoxville News-Sentinel argued relentlessly over the bridge, bickering with one another over everything from the bridge's size to the construction materials to be used. One councilman charged that bribery had taken place. Furthermore, rather than allow Marsh Engineering to choose its own construction supervisor, the city installed local engineers L. M. Dow and S. B. Goodsey as supervising engineer and resident engineer, respectively, and made numerous modifications to Marsh's design. Work finally began on September 30, 1930, with Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
contractor Booth and Flinn
Booth and Flinn
Booth and Flinn was one of the largest American general contracting companies of its era. It was established and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
overseeing construction. Knoxville and Knox County
Knox County, Tennessee
Knox County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. Its 2007 population was estimated at 423,874 by the United States Census Bureau. Its county seat is Knoxville, as it has been since the creation of the county. The county is at the geographical center of the Great Valley of East Tennessee...
split the cost of the bridge.
The completion of the Henley Street Bridge roughly coincided with the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site that straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are a division of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain. The border between Tennessee and North...
, and the bridge became for Knoxvillians the "gateway" to the Smokies (US-441, which crosses the bridge, is still the main route connecting Knoxville with the park). Since 1987, the bridge has also been the primary fireworks launching area during Knoxville's annual Boomsday
Boomsday
Boomsday is an annual fireworks celebration that takes place on Labor Day weekend in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is one of the largest firework shows in the Southern United States and is considered a top attraction in the region. The event is held on Volunteer Landing and accompanied by live music and...
celebration.
In recent years, the Tennessee Department of Transportation has deemed the Henley Street Bridge structurally deficient, and has pegged the bridge for a major rehabilitation project that will begin in 2011. The project, which will cost an estimated $30 million, will involve replacing the bridge's deck and several other structural components. The new deck will contain five traffic lanes and two bicycle lanes, and sidewalks. The bridge is expected to be closed for as long as three years until the rehabilitation work is completed.
External links
- Henley Street Bridge Structure, April 2004 — TDOT photographs showing some of the bridge's structural problems
- Henley Bridge Project – Citizens' Comments