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How to cross the river

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Now that both the Gay Street and Henley Street Bridges are closed on July 4, how can you cross the Tennessee River for the festivities?

In the heat of the holiday season, traffic will already be heavy with people heading to the BBQs, the 4th festival or just a good view of the fireworks. You will need to plan your route in advance to avoid getting stuck.

The Gay Street Bridge is temporarily closed for repairs and the Henley Street Bridge will close at 4pm on July 4.

The City of Knoxville advises travelers to use the James White Parkway when traveling to or from South Knoxville:

  • On the way to South Knoxville: Use the detours at Summit Hill Drive to take Hill Avenue to James White Parkway. You can also take Church Avenue to Howard Baker Drive to Hill Avenue to get to James White Parkway.
  • On the way to the city center: On Chapman Highway, take Moody Avenue to get to James White Parkway. You can also drive on Sevier Avenue to get to James White Parkway.

The Alcoa Highway is open to anyone who needs to get to Alcoa or the University of Tennessee Medical Center, or if you prefer to cross the river, away from the hustle and bustle of downtown.

Why are both the Gay Street and Henley Street bridges closed?

The Henley Street Bridge will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians from 4 p.m. to midnight on July 4. Pyro Shows will be setting off fireworks on the bridge for Festival on the 4th. The free event in World’s Fair Park begins at 5 p.m.

The Gay Street Bridge was closed to vehicles and pedestrians on June 25 after a routine inspection by the Tennessee Department of Transportation revealed a “compromised element” in a supporting structure. After a detailed inspection is completed, repairs to the bridge can begin. No timeline has been set.

Are there any other road closures in Knoxville for the 4th of July?

These two roads are also closed on July 4:

  • World Expo Park Drive: Closed to traffic from 2pm to 11pm
  • Clinchlaan: Closed between Henley and 11th Street.

On July 5, the 100 block of Gay Street will be closed to vehicles from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. for a block party hosted by the Arts and Culture Alliance. The party will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at [email protected].

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