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Sweetwater officials weigh TDOT’s bid to rebuild Highway 11 bridge, favoring shorter full closure to limit downtown disruption
Summary
City staff outlined TDOT’s options to replace a deteriorating Highway 11 bridge — a 6–7 month full closure or a 12‑month two‑phase plan leaving a lane open — and reported local traffic data and business concerns that led staff to prefer the shorter, full closure if TDOT can meet the timeline.
Sweetwater staff told the mayor and board of commissioners that the Tennessee Department of Transportation has classified the Highway 11 South bridge as ‘poor’ and placed a weight limit on it, and invited local input on construction options ahead of planned work in spring 2028.
Jessica summarized the March meeting with TDOT and the project team, saying TDOT presented three approaches and effectively eliminated an alternating‑one‑lane signal option because it would create excessive delays. The remaining choices are a single‑phase approach that closes the bridge area for about 6–7 months, or a two‑phase plan that leaves the northbound lane open and extends work to roughly 12 months. Jessica said TDOT told the city, “We would not close it until they were ready to start digging, and we really do think they can do it in 6 to 7 months,” and that the department expects to include liquidated damages in contracts to encourage on‑schedule completion.
Staff shared TDOT traffic counts and local travel behavior with the board: about 9,464 daily southbound vehicles use exit 62 and turn onto Highway 11, compared with roughly 7,685 northbound. Commissioners and downtown business representatives raised concerns that leaving only the northbound lane open for a year would cut direct access to businesses clustered on the southbound side and reduce customer traffic. Several council members and the staff team said the data and experience from other bridge projects led them to favor the full closure for a shorter duration if TDOT can meet the 6–7 month schedule and include strong signage and rerouting (including Google/Maps coordination) so customers know “local businesses are open.”
Scott Skinner, a downtown business representative who had registered a public comment, attended the discussion and expressed concern about truck access and curb configurations but acknowledged TDOT’s offer of signage and rerouting support.
Jessica said TDOT plans to begin traffic planning and right‑of‑way acquisition now and does not expect construction to start until around spring 2028. She also noted the project timeline depends on remaining property acquisitions and federal grant timing; TDOT has provided maps and data for local review.
Next steps: staff will provide the board’s feedback to TDOT; the council will consider a formal response at the May meeting and begin planning a local messaging and signage campaign to protect downtown businesses if the project moves forward.
