Countdown Begins for Pro Walk/Pro Bike® 2010 – Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga, Tennessee, host to ProWalk/ProBike® 2010, has much to boast about, including a walkable downtown, electric transit opportunities, a heavily used river trail, mountain biking within minutes of town and the restored Walnut Street Bridge, which serves as the basis for the 2010 event logo. 

The Walnut Street Bridge is the oldest and largest surviving truss bridge in the South and was the first multi-use structure to span the 652-mile Tennessee River.  Completed in 1891, the bridge connected Chattanooga to what was then known as Hill City on the north shore. 

Closed in 1978 as unsafe, the Walnut Street Bridge was condemned and slated for demolition when local citizens, led by Chattanooga Venture, convinced the City of Chattanooga to commit the funds earmarked for the bridge’s demolition to its restoration, providing the balance of the renovation cost could be raised. 

The nearly half-mile long span reopened in May, 1993, to non-motorized traffic, serving as a key bicycle and pedestrian link between downtown Chattanooga and the now thriving Northshore District.  Connected to the Tennessee Riverpark and spanning the Tennessee River Blueway, the Walnut Street Bridge continues to be one of Chattanooga’s most visited attractions, and provides a gathering place for residents and visitors to enjoy events, entertainment and recreation.  The restored Walnut Street Bridge now serves as an icon for a community undergoing a renaissance along its river.

Join us in the Scenic City, September 13-17, 2010, for ProWalk/ProBike®!