TDOT Celebrates Federal Grant Supporting Wilcox Boulevard Bridge Replacement in Hamilton County

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Today, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) joined the City of Chattanooga, Norfolk Southern Railway, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and federal, state, and local officials to celebrate the ceremonial signing of the federal RAISE Grant that will support the replacement of the Wilcox Boulevard Bridge in Hamilton County.

The Wilcox Boulevard Bridge, built in 1958, serves more than 18,000 vehicles each day and provides a critical connection over the Norfolk Southern DeButts Rail Yard, one of the busiest rail facilities in the nation. Serving an important freight corridor and providing a vital pathway to help drive economic development for the region, the new bridge will deliver modern, multimodal accommodations and improve safety and reliability for all who use it.

The project will replace the current, aging bridge and construct a new 851‑foot, four‑span bridge. Planned improvements include four 12-foot travel lanes (two lanes in each direction) with 4-foot shoulders, and a new 12-foot multi-use path.

“FHWA is excited to be part of this huge milestone in the making of a new Wilcox Boulevard Bridge,” said Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster. “With the signing of this grant agreement, more than $25 million in U.S. Department of Transportation grant funding will get shovels in the ground to build a new bridge and move millions of tons of freight through Chattanooga more efficiently. This is just one of the $9.7 billion in competitive grant agreements the Trump Administration has executed so far, outpacing what the previous administration achieved in four years. Under President Trump, America is building again.”

As a recipient of the $25,000,000 RAISE Grant, the City of Chattanooga is helping spearhead the collaborative project, with contributions from federal, state, local, and private partners. RAISE stands for "Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity," a U.S. Department of Transportation discretionary grant program for surface transportation projects that have a significant local or regional impact.

“Today’s signing highlights what strong partnerships can accomplish,” said TDOT Commissioner Will Reid. “TDOT is proud to support the City and our partners in advancing a bridge replacement that will serve Chattanooga for decades to come.”

At the City’s request, TDOT is assisting with project delivery and will facilitate construction through an alternative delivery method that supports more efficient coordination and an earlier completion.

“The reimagined Wilcox Boulevard Bridge will be a multi-functional structure that protects our vital logistics assets while connecting East Chattanooga, Avondale, and Glenwood to the riverfront,” said Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly. “By restoring this historic piece of critical infrastructure, we are actively fulfilling our commitment to making Chattanooga a more connected and mobile community for all. The fiscal challenges in getting to today have been enormous, so we are grateful to all the partners who stepped up to help fund it. This project is a great example of how vital public and private partnerships are for building the infrastructure we need to keep up with Chattanooga’s growth.”

Construction is expected to begin in early 2027, marking a major step forward in improving connectivity for the region.

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