Wednesday, April 2, 2008

One more place to bike in Knoxville, coming soon

Greetings, area bikers!

I'm a co-worker of Kelley's, and she invited me to post on the blog a while back, and I've finally come up with something (semi-)interesting to say, so here goes:

I called TDOT's construction office this afternoon about progress on the bike/ped addition to the Buck Karnes (Alcoa Highway) bridge, and was told that the finishing touches (railings, etc.) would be completed within 2 weeks.

Juuuuust a little behind schedule, but I'm looking forward to taking it for a spin nonetheless.

For those not familiar with the project, there's an on-ramp to the bike/ped bridge from where the Neyland Greenway goes under the Buck Karnes. On the other side of the river, there's a ramp that (I'm told) connects to one of the service roads on UT's property.

Eventually this bridge will link to the greenway that the city's building down to Marine Park. That greenway will eventually link with the greenway TDOT's supposed to build as part of the Alcoa Highway project, which will eventually link to the Maryville/Alcoa greenways, which will eventually link to the Smokies, etc., etc., ad infinitum.

But for now, there's a new bridge coming. Wear your helmets! (When biking, at least.)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

They are opening a new bridge in Nashville in two weeks and the local bike community there is
having a fun ride called "Cross (dress) The Bridge".

Quote:
"Saturday April 12th 2008
-RAIN OR SHINE-
Get out your Sunday dress and celebrate the new bicycle pedestrian
bridge opening in Nashville!

This ride is to celebrate Nashville's bicycle lane and greenway
system, as well as bring attention to cycling in the city and the use
of bicycles as viable forms of transportation, as well as bring
attention to more opportunities for road and mountain biking.

We will have a petition on hand to help gain more mountain bike
trails in Davidson County.

Meet downtown and ride to the Shelby Bike Ped bridge. Over that and
down Davidson to the Shelby Bottoms Greenway. Down to the new bridge,
cross it, have some snacks and such... then ride back the way we
came. Finish up at Yazoo Brewery for beers*
"

Details on the Nashville thing are @
http://crossdressingthebridge.blogspot.com/

*****We (Knoxville) should do something to top this!*****

I'd like to plan some kind of ride to celebrate our new bridge opening and maybe show those Nashvillians how we do it in the 865.

But I need your help-

If you have ideas for how we can put on a better ride than middle TN please email me @ [my first name]@thecooperproject.com

If we get something put together I'll have Kelly or Ellen post details on the blog.

Thanks,
Ryan

Anonymous said...

I rode across the bridge this evening. The bike lane is a nice improvement.

I wish there were more riding options on the south side of the river. Cherokee Trail isn't the most bicycle-friendly road around.