Walnut Street Bridge Essay

Before the construction of Walnut Street Bridge, the North Shore and Downtown area of Chattanooga were two different worlds, separated by the Tennessee River. The bridge connected the two areas and provided economic success for both parties, as businesses popped up on both sides of the bridge and customers readily traveled across the bridge to visit those businesses. The Walnut Street bridge is a renown bridge made by some of the best in the business, like Edwin Thatcher. This bridge still stands today, renovated to be a pedestrian bridge. It has shaped Chattanooga and is a central tourist attraction.

When Union troops occupied Chattanooga during the Civil War, the first permanent bridge in Chattanooga was built across the Tennessee River. Construction of the bridge began early in 1864, under the direction of

B. Merriam talked about the benefits that the bridge would bring. “It would encourage the large wagon trade lying to the North and cause Hill City to be built up, as well as improve access to timber, coal, farm products…” They also announced that the work had been paid for fully, in progressive payments as the bridge was built. Gahagan, who reported that Neely Smith & Company had been paid in full $96,197.50. $121,229.44 had been paid on the iron work, with a balance due of $1,131.71; and McCauley & Morse had been paid $7,149.44 on the streetcar track with a balance due of $678.56. The bridge was fully paid off and was given to the city. It has been pronounced by high authority as the best free bridge south of the Ohio River

Thatchers bridge originally was for mobiles and it served its purpose for 87 years. But after 87 years, it closed because the maintenance fees were increasing and excessive. The city then felt like leaving it open at this high cost was not doable. The city closed the bridge in 1978. However, this was not the last day for the Walnut Street