Blog: City Blog

New Section of South Waterfront Public Riverwalk Under Construction West of Henley Bridge

A new section of public riverwalk is being constructed west of the Henley Bridge.

Dirt is moving west of the Henley Bridge along the South Waterfront:

-- Site preparation work is well underway for 303 Flats, a 136-unit apartment complex across the Tennessee River from Neyland Stadium. The project by Roanoke, Va.-based University Housing Group is aiming to be completed by fall 2018.

-- West Blount Avenue between Chapman Highway and the railroad overpass near St. Paul Street reopened last week to vehicular traffic. The road had been closed so a contractor could install conduit for signal upgrades, sewer main connections and storm drains.

-- Also last week, crews began rebuilding sidewalks on the north side of West Blount Avenue. The streetscape work - sidewalks, curbs and gutters, streetlights and landscaping - will continue through 2018.

-- Perhaps the most exciting update: A new 450-foot-long section of public riverwalk next to the 303 Flats project is under construction.

The new riverwalk will connect with two other sections, forming a more than half-mile-long public walking trail that will feature some of Knoxville's prettiest waterfront views.

The 303 Flats section will connect to the west with a 1,375-foot-long section that's already in place at Cityview. The Cityview riverwalk sits about 50 feet lower than the plane on which the 303 Flats riverwalk will be built, and plans are being finalized for stairs and/or an elevator that will allow pedestrians to navigate the elevation change and cross beneath the railroad tracks.

To the east, the new riverwalk will connect with another section that's also under construction - an 1,100-foot-long stretch between the Gay Street and Henley bridges, next to the Riverwalk at the Bridges apartments now being built and expected to begin opening early next year.

All three sections of riverwalk will be open to the public. The will average 20 to 30 feet in width and consist of a running path, a "site furnishing zone" with benches, trash receptacles, bike racks and lighting, and a multi-use path for bicyclists and pedestrians.

In addition, the Riverwalk at the Bridges section will pass a 37,500-square-foot public event space adjacent to the Henley Bridge, with amphitheater seating and an interactive fountain.

"This is a major reinvestment in property that wasn’t on anyone’s radar when the Vision Plan was adopted," said Dawn Michelle Foster, the City’s Director of Redevelopment. "This will be a big transformation of vacant, blighted property to a mix of private and public space - and that's very exciting.

"The more than half a mile of new public riverwalk will be a real gem. We’re sure that the riverwalk and plaza will be popular amenities."

Rendering of 303 Flats, estimated to open in fall 2018

Posted by evreeland On 28 August, 2017 at 12:15 PM