Wilkes T. Thrasher Bridge

The Wilkes T. Thrasher Bridge is a steel arch bridge carrying four lanes across the Tennessee River and connecting both sides of Chattanooga. It handles Tennessee State Route 153 traffic over the Chickamauga Dam and serves both vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

The structure was completed in 1955 as a two-lane roadway after a county official spent years advocating for its construction. It was expanded to four lanes during the 1980s to handle growing traffic demands in the city.

The bridge is named after a county judge who championed its construction and shaped local development. It represents the connection between neighborhoods and serves as a daily part of how residents move through the city.

The bridge handles daily traffic and becomes busy during peak commuting hours. Visiting at quieter times allows you to better observe the structure and enjoy views of the river and surrounding area.

Unusually, the bridge was built 15 years after the Chickamauga Dam below it was completed, constructed directly atop the dam structure itself. This approach solved the need for a river crossing without requiring separate supports in the water.