| May 3, 2005 - The Church
Avenue viaduct in downtown Knoxville will be closed to heavy truck
traffic beginning this week to prevent further deterioration to the
bridge, which is scheduled to be replaced.
Signs will be posted Friday advising that trucks weighing more
than 18 tons with three or more axles or 10 tons with two axles
should not use the viaduct. Suggested alternate routes are Summit
Hill Drive to the north and Hill Avenue to the south.
The weight limits are designed to prevent continued deterioration
that would require temporary repairs before the bridge is demolished
and replaced in 2006 in conjunction with the Tennessee Department
of Transportation's SmartFIX40 project, which will make improvements
to Interstate 40 downtown.