Residents press city for a more historic look on Harpeth River bridge; board resists delaying TDOT bid

Residents and members of the historic-design community told the Board of Mayor and Aldermen they want the Harpeth River bridge to better match downtown Franklin’s character, but staff and multiple aldermen cautioned against seeking changes that would force TDOT to rebid the project and delay construction.

Paul Holson (city staff presenting consultant exhibits) and other staff explained that the current design, completed in 2019 with input from the historic zoning commission, is the basis TDOT used for the bid and that TDOT is willing to accommodate only limited changes without rejecting bids. Staff said the city funded roughly $900,000 for enhancements such as decorative streetlights, a pedestrian separator and a railing system; staff added that removing the pedestrian separator or adding stone veneer adjacent to the roadway would be major design changes that TDOT views as grounds for rebidding and an eight‑to‑12‑month delay.

Joy Morris, who said she lives on Third Avenue South, urged the board to "put real stone or real brick, but not artificial" on the bridge and to avoid a barrier that makes the walkway feel like a tunnel. “This is the entrance to Historic Franklin,” Morris said. Mary Pierce, who said she helped raise private funds for streetscape work, warned the board that the artist renderings shown to the public are misleading and asked the city to keep the option of moving the concrete wall to the riverside and using wrought iron on the traffic side so the riverside appearance is more historic.

Why it matters: The bridge carries both vehicles and pedestrians at a key downtown gateway. Board members repeatedly said they do not want to delay TDOT’s award or jeopardize the project schedule, but many pressed staff to push for modest adjustments (railing designs, color/stain of form liners, inset city seals) that TDOT indicated might be accommodated without a full rebid.

Board members and staff discussed trade-offs: several aldermen emphasized the bridge will be a long-term fixture and urged getting the look right for future generations, while staff stressed TDOT’s ethical and procurement concerns and the likely cost and schedule impacts of major changes.

Outcome: The board directed staff to return with a small set of options that historic zoning and the design review committee could evaluate and to communicate to TDOT which limited elements the city wishes to pursue. Staff said TDOT indicated certain decorative railing changes and minor formwork adjustments (such as insets for a city seal or color staining) could be accommodated without a rebid; staff also warned that stone veneer on the roadside would not be permitted without redesign and rebidding.

Next steps: Staff will coordinate with the historic design review committee to propose a concise set of adjustments the board could approve without delaying TDOT’s anticipated bid award.