Henley Street Bridge, Concrete arch bridge in Knoxville, Tennessee, US
Henley Street Bridge is a six-span concrete arch structure that stretches across the Tennessee River, with a main arch measuring about 317 feet in span length. The 54-foot-wide roadway connects downtown Knoxville with Chapman Highway to the south, serving as a major crossing over this significant waterway.
Built in 1930 by the Pittsburgh-based Booth and Flinn Company during the Great Depression, the bridge reduced travel time between Knoxville and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The project reflected the city's efforts to modernize its infrastructure and create better connections to major tourist destinations.
The bridge carries the name of Colonel David Henley, a military officer from the Revolutionary era who represented the War Department in Knoxville during the 1790s. His legacy connects the structure to the city's role in early American history.
The bridge handles heavy vehicle traffic with more than 43,000 vehicles crossing daily, so pedestrians and cyclists should avoid peak hours for safer passage. The southern approach provides better walking conditions and offers views of the river below.
The construction employed an innovative moving arch centering system that allowed workers to build each concrete arch rib sequentially rather than all at once. This approach was notable engineering for the 1930s and reduced construction complexity during the Depression era.
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