Suspension Bridges of Tennessee

This is a list of all 19 bridges from the suspension bridge inventory for Tennessee in USA. Wherever you see a Bridgemeister ID number click it to isolate the bridge on its own page.

Related Lists:

1850: (suspension bridge)

Nashville and Edgefield, Tennessee, USA - Cumberland River
Bridgemeister ID:33 (added before 2003)
Year Completed:1850
Name:(suspension bridge)
Location:Nashville and Edgefield, Tennessee, USA
Crossing:Cumberland River
Principals:Adolphus Heiman, Mathew Dickinson Field
References:AAJ
Use:Vehicular
Status:Destroyed, 1862
Main Cables:Wire (iron)
Main Span:1 x 164 meters (538 feet)

Notes:

External Links:

Stereoview, collection of David Denenberg

1866: (suspension bridge)

Nashville and Edgefield, Tennessee, USA - Cumberland River
Bridgemeister ID:1965 (added 2005-11-20)
Year Completed:1866
Name:(suspension bridge)
Location:Nashville and Edgefield, Tennessee, USA
Crossing:Cumberland River
References:AAJ
Use:Vehicular
Status:Removed, 1884
Main Cables:Wire

Notes:


1918: Swinging

Old Hickory, Nashville and Goodlettsville, Nashville, Tennessee, USA - Cumberland River
Bridgemeister ID:587 (added 2003-01-05)
Year Completed:1918
Name:Swinging
Location:Old Hickory, Nashville and Goodlettsville, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Crossing:Cumberland River
At or Near Feature:Hadley Bend
Coordinates:N 36.289002 W 86.685355
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Principals:William G. Grove, American Bridge Co.
References:AAJ, PTS2
Use:Vehicular (one-lane)
Status:Removed
Main Cables:Wire (steel)
Suspended Spans:1
Main Span:1 x 164.6 meters (540 feet)
Deck width:8 feet

Notes:

  • Coordinates provided are approximate based on current-day (2021) location of Swinging Bridge Road.

External Links:

  • Bridgehunter.com | Old Hickory Suspension Bridge
  • DuPont High School Alumni Association - The Swinging Bridge. According to the description in this article provided by Old Hickory Branch Library this large bridge had a 540-foot main span and was used for vehicular traffic. "The suspension bridge... Was diverted from its original destination in South America because of the urgency of the war effort. It was built for pedestrian traffic and used only for that purpose at first... Upon determination that the bridge was capable of handling light traffic, a flagman was stationed at each end of the bridge on a 24-hour-a-day basis and cars began using the one-lane span." Kris Brummett adds: "The 540 foot span had no supports to prevent sideways movement and literally swayed back and forth. The bridge was used until 1929."

1945: TVA Apalachia

Reliance vicinity, Tennessee, USA - Hiwassee River
Bridgemeister ID:790 (added 2003-03-22)
Year Completed:1945
Name:TVA Apalachia
Location:Reliance vicinity, Tennessee, USA
Crossing:Hiwassee River
Coordinates:N 35.18269 W 84.43894
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Use:Footbridge
Status:In use (last checked: 2022)
Main Cables:Wire (steel)
Suspended Spans:1
Main Span:1 x 120.4 meters (395 feet)

Notes:

  • Patrick S. O'Donnell notes this footbridge is large, "its main span is 395 feet with 455 feet between the towers, as [one] tower is set back from the end of the deck."
  • Rebuilt 1975 and again in 2008.

External Links:

Photo by Patrick S. O'Donnell Photo by Brian Lewis Photo by Brian Lewis

1948: (footbridge)

Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA - South Chickamauga Creek
Bridgemeister ID:248 (added before 2003)
Year Completed:1948
Name:(footbridge)
Location:Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
Crossing:South Chickamauga Creek
At or Near Feature:Elise Chapin Wildlife Sanctuary
Coordinates:N 34.99694 W 85.18442
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Use:Footbridge
Status:Destroyed, July 16, 2000

Notes:


1988: (footbridge)

Dayton, Tennessee, USA - Richland Creek
Bridgemeister ID:1263 (added 2004-03-13)
Year Completed:1988
Name:(footbridge)
Location:Dayton, Tennessee, USA
Crossing:Richland Creek
Coordinates:N 35.49 W 85.013667
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Use:Footbridge
Status:In use (last checked: 2006)
Main Cables:Wire
Suspended Spans:1

Photo by James Adorno

2001: (footbridge)

Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA - South Chickamauga Creek
Bridgemeister ID:2513 (added 2009-12-30)
Year Completed:2001
Name:(footbridge)
Location:Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
Crossing:South Chickamauga Creek
At or Near Feature:Elise Chapin Sanctuary at Audobon Acres
Coordinates:N 34.996926 W 85.184675
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Principals:S & R Construction
Use:Footbridge
Status:In use (last checked: 2019)
Main Cables:Wire (steel)
Suspended Spans:1
Main Span:1 x 38.1 meters (125 feet)

Notes:

Photo by Patrick S. O'Donnell

(footbridge)

Bluff City, Tennessee, USA - South Fork Holston River
Bridgemeister ID:2341 (added 2007-08-11)
Name:(footbridge)
Location:Bluff City, Tennessee, USA
Crossing:South Fork Holston River
Coordinates:N 36.47584 W 82.25487
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Use:Footbridge
Status:In use (last checked: 2008)
Main Cables:Wire (steel)

(footbridge)

Fort Pillow Historic Park, Tennessee, USA
Bridgemeister ID:2392 (added 2007-11-20)
Name:(footbridge)
Location:Fort Pillow Historic Park, Tennessee, USA
Coordinates:N 35.64206 W 89.83880
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Use:Footbridge
Status:In use (last checked: 2007)
Main Cables:Wire (steel)
Suspended Spans:1

(footbridge)

Hilham, Tennessee, USA
Bridgemeister ID:6988 (added 2022-04-03)
Name:(footbridge)
Location:Hilham, Tennessee, USA
At or Near Feature:Standing Stone State Park
Coordinates:N 36.470954 W 85.418240
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Use:Footbridge
Status:In use (last checked: 2021)
Main Cables:Wire (steel)
Suspended Spans:1

(footbridge)

Jamestown vicinity, Tennessee, USA - Thompson Creek
Bridgemeister ID:2627 (added 2018-12-31)
Name:(footbridge)
Location:Jamestown vicinity, Tennessee, USA
Crossing:Thompson Creek
At or Near Feature:Pickett CCC Memorial State Park
Coordinates:N 36.55035 W 84.801530
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Use:Footbridge
Status:In use (last checked: 2015)
Main Cables:Wire (steel)

(footbridge)

Signal Mountain, Tennessee, USA - North Suck Creek
Bridgemeister ID:4955 (added 2020-08-08)
Name:(footbridge)
Location:Signal Mountain, Tennessee, USA
Crossing:North Suck Creek
Coordinates:N 35.161600 W 85.391151
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Use:Footbridge
Status:Extant (last checked: 2020)
Main Cables:Wire (steel)
Suspended Spans:1

External Links:


(pipeline bridge)

Burgess Falls, Sparta vicinity, Tennessee, USA - Falling Water River
Bridgemeister ID:2346 (added 2007-08-12)
Name:(pipeline bridge)
Location:Burgess Falls, Sparta vicinity, Tennessee, USA
Crossing:Falling Water River
At or Near Feature:Burgess Falls State Park
Use:Pipeline
Status:Derelict (last checked: 2007)
Main Cables:Wire

Notes:

  • Likely constructed in 1920s as part of the dam and powerhouse project at Burgess Falls. There may have been two of these bridges at this location. The current map for Burgess Falls State Park shows two historical "pipeline bridges." I have only seen images of one derelict suspension bridge.

(pipeline bridge)

Charleston, Tennessee, USA - Hiwassee River
Bridgemeister ID:2036 (added 2006-05-01)
Name:(pipeline bridge)
Location:Charleston, Tennessee, USA
Crossing:Hiwassee River
Principals:John A. Roebling's Sons Co., Pittsburgh Bridge & Iron Co.
Use:Pipeline
Main Cables:Wire (steel)

Notes:

  • Built to connect Blaw-Knox chemical plan to nearby Bowaters Southern Paper Corp. Described in Roebling ad in March 1963 issue of Civil Engineering.

Riverfront

Kingsport, Tennessee, USA - Holston River
Bridgemeister ID:1086 (added 2004-01-01)
Name:Riverfront
Also Known As:Swinging
Location:Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
Crossing:Holston River
At or Near Feature:Riverfront Park, Heritage Park
Coordinates:N 36.550017 W 82.586383
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Use:Footbridge
Status:In use (last checked: 2022)
Main Cables:Wire (steel)
Suspended Spans:1
Main Span:1 x 73.2 meters (240 feet) estimated

Notes:

  • 2007, October: Closed due to structural issues.
  • 2009-2010: Repaired late 2009 or 2010 and reopened.
  • 2021, May: Closed due to "hazardous conditions" pending repairs. Work expected to start in July.
  • 2021, July: Bridge remains closed indefinitely. City of Kingsport soliciting more bids for repair work.
  • 2022, April: Repairs in progress.
  • 2022, June: Repairs completed, bridge reopened.

Annotated Citations:

Photo by Patrick S. O'Donnell

Swinging

Kinzel Springs (Townsend), Tennessee, USA - Little River
Bridgemeister ID:310 (added before 2003)
Name:Swinging
Location:Kinzel Springs (Townsend), Tennessee, USA
Crossing:Little River
Use:Footbridge
Main Cables:Wire

Notes:

  • There are at least two swinging bridge locations at Townsend, Tennessee. There have been at least two bridges at this location known as Kinzel Springs (also Sunshine) at the western end of Townsend. This entry is for the older of the two Kinzel Springs bridges.

Swinging

Kinzel Springs (Townsend), Tennessee, USA - Little River
Bridgemeister ID:1138 (added 2004-01-17)
Name:Swinging
Location:Kinzel Springs (Townsend), Tennessee, USA
Crossing:Little River
Coordinates:N 35.68701 W 83.79791
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Use:Footbridge
Status:Closed, 2019 (last checked: 2020)
Main Cables:Wire (steel)
Suspended Spans:1

Notes:

  • There are at least two swinging bridge locations at Townsend, Tennessee. There have been at least two bridges at this location known as Kinzel Springs (also Sunshine) at the western end of Townsend. This entry is for the present-day (2020) of the Kinzel Springs bridges.
  • 2019: Closed due to decaying timber structural members.
  • 2020, June: Repairs started. Expected to be reopened in 2020.

External Links:


Swinging

Townsend, Tennessee, USA - Little River
Bridgemeister ID:1139 (added 2004-01-17)
Name:Swinging
Location:Townsend, Tennessee, USA
Crossing:Little River
Coordinates:N 35.679553 W 83.750614
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Use:Footbridge
Status:In use (last checked: 2015)
Main Cables:Wire
Suspended Spans:1

Notes:

  • This is the droopier footbridge at the eastern end of Townsend, distinct from the bridge at the "Kinzel Springs" location on the western side of Townsend. Typically the droopy footbridges are omitted from the Bridgemeister inventory, but this one is included to avoid confusion with the other Townsend-area bridges.

TVA Ocoee 2

Ducktown vicinity, Tennessee, USA - Ocoee River
Bridgemeister ID:791 (added 2003-03-22)
Name:TVA Ocoee 2
Location:Ducktown vicinity, Tennessee, USA
Crossing:Ocoee River
Coordinates:N 35.08295 W 84.4906
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Use:Footbridge
Status:In use
Main Cables:Wire
Suspended Spans:1

Photo by Patrick S. O'Donnell


Do you have any information or photos for these bridges that you would like to share? Please email david.denenberg@bridgemeister.com.


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