The Henley Bridge is closing soon but businesses on the south side of the Tennessee River will remain open and a new website, www.southknoxisopen.com is there to help you find them. 

The City of Knoxville-supported website that reminds folks that South Knoxville isn't shutting down includes a directory of businesses along and just off Chapman Highway from Moody Avenue north to the Henley Bridge. It also includes links to the businesses as well as a map to help people get there.

It also links to the Tennessee Department of Transportation website, which contains a wealth of information about the bridge and the reconstruction as well as about detours while the construction is taking place.

"The closure of the Henley Street Bridge is a really important issue to the people of South Knoxville and especially the small businesses located in South Knoxville," said Nick Pavlis, who represents South Knoxville on the City Council.  "Hopefully, this website will allow folks to realize they can still shop in South Knoxville and that our businesses are still open."

The site will be updated regularly with status reports on the progress of the reconstruction of the bridge as well as any developments related to the affected businesses and residents in South Knoxville.

The bridge will be closed for 24-30 months beginning on January 3, 2011, for the reconstruction of the 80-year-old structure. The work is necessary because the bridge has been classified by TDOT as structurally deficient.