Repair work on the displaced wooden footbridge on the Third Creek Greenway began Tuesday afternoon and continues today as a contractor prepared to lift the bridge and place it back on its supports.

All Crane Rental of Tennessee, LLC moved a crane into place alongside the creek late Tuesday afternoon in preparation for lifting the estimated 25,000-pound bridge, which is lying a short distance away from where it had spanned Third Creek.

The bridge, located about three-tenths of a mile from Third Creek Greenway's Concord Road entrance, was washed out during the flooding on February 28.

The City of Knoxville had initially sought to get it back into position and secured in time for the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon on April 3. That section of the greenway is part of the marathon and half-marathon course.

It may, however, be ready more than a week early.

"We hope to have it ready by this Saturday," said Joe Walsh, director of the city's Parks and Recreation Department, for the Knoxville Track Club's Greenways 5K on March 26.

The Public Service Department prepared the area clearing enough room on either side of the greenway for the crane to squeeze through and laying down a stone surface at the worksite.

Mike Bartholomew and a crew from All Crane carefully moved the machine backwards along the section of greenway that features a pair of narrow, curving rises before reaching the bridge.

"Hopefully it (the bridge) is strong enough that it won't fall apart when they pick it up," Walsh said.

Once the bridge is back on its foundation a city public service department crew will anchor it in place.

The Third Creek Greenway is a key segment in the city's 50-mile network of greenways. It connects to greenways as far east as Morningside Park and west to Bearden Elementary School and gives runners, walkers and bicyclists to access downtown, the University of Tennessee, Cherokee Boulevard, Volunteer Landing and World's Fair Park.

Anywhere from 8,000 to 12,000 people use the trail each month, depending on the season.

Both Walsh and David Brace, deputy director of the public service department, have indicated today's work is a short-term fix.

"At a minimum we will get a temporary fix there and have it open for pedestrians between now and the marathon," Brace said earlier this month.

In the long run the city will study building a new concrete and steel structure at the crossing.