‘This is a standard bridge repair’ – Jimmy Jeffries

Millions and millions of vehicles have driven over the 98-year- old Central Avenue Bridge in La Follette.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – “Public Works Director Jim Mullens and I met with TDOT four or five years ago.  Their plan was to tear down the big bridge (TOP PHOTO) here in town and replace it,” said La Follette Mayor Mike Stanfield.     The mayor went on to say, “It was going to cost so much to raze the Central Avenue Bridge and rebuild it that TDOT changed its plans.”

The current railing is up snug to the Carl Pierce Building on the south side of the street.

That new plan, according to La Follette City Administrator Jimmy Jeffries, is described by TDOT officials as a “standard bridge repair.”  Jeffries adds that at a minimum there will be one lane open in each direction plus an emergency lane.  Counting the turn lane and the parking lanes, there are seven lanes across the Central Avenue Bridge.

Jeffries explains that there will be quite a bit of work done underneath the bridge.

Details from Jeffries outline that the repair will take the bridge all the way down to its decking.  New rails and lighting will be brought up to current standards he notes.

L. J. Seargeant is the grandfather of La Follette Medical Center Pharmacist Dr. Lee Seargeant

Jeffries feels confident the repairs on the nearly 100-year- old bridge will start this year with a completion date of May 2020.  A pre-construction conference is set for next Thursday, August 15, at 10 am, at the TDOT Office on Stiner Highway east of La Follette.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 08/08/2019-6AM)