Olgiati Bridge
(Williams Memorial Bridge)
NBI Information
Location
State: Tennessee
County: Hamilton County
Feature Carried: US 27
Feature Crossed: Tennessee River, Railroad, and TN-58
Latitude, Longitude: 35.0579, -85.3162
Toll: On free road
Maintenance Responsibility: State Highway Agency
Structure Open, Posted, or Closed to Traffic: Open, no restriction
History
Year Built: 1955
Historical Significance: Historical significance is not determinable at this time.
Year Reconstructed: 2003
Picture Date: May 19, 2024
Geometry
Lanes on Structure: 8
Lanes under Structure: 7
Skew: 0 degrees
Number of Main Spans: 15
Main Structure Type: Girder and Floorbeam System
Main Structure Material: Steel Continuous
Number of Approach Spans: 2
Approach Structure Type: Tee Beam
Approach Structure Material: Concrete
Condition
Inspection Date: March 2021
Deck Condition: Good
Superstructure Condition: Good
Substructure Condition: Fair
Channel Condition: Satisfactory
Culvert: Not Applicable
NBI Year: 2023
Bridge Information
The Olgiati Bridge, often called the Ol' Johnny" or "Ol' Jolly Bridge, was built from 1955 to 1959 to alleviate traffic on the Chief John Ross Bridge and the Walnut Street Bridge. However, talk of this bridge began in 1949. The construction of this bridge and associated roadway could only be accomplished by cutting off the top half of Cameron Hill. This area was once a prominent downtown neighborhood, but it had fallen into decline with some of the houses being divided into rental units or converted into businesses. This plan was opposed by the locals, but portions of the hill were removed anyway. More than a thousand buildings were torn down, and 1,400 families were relocated. The bridge is opened to traffic on November 20, 1959.
From 1999 to 2003, the bridge was widened from four lanes to six lanes. This was accomplished by adding two additional girders on each side of the existing bridge. On the approach roadways, the new girders were supported on new hammerhead piers that were built adjacent to the existing piers. Over the river, steel hammerhead pier caps were added to the original concrete piers. In both cases, the substructure was built widener than the bridge to accommodate a future widening. During this project, a ramp was added to connect the bridge to Manufacturers Road (TN-58), and the hazardous loop ramp was demolished.
In 2011, TDOT announced that an additional two lanes would be added to the bridge. The bridge work experienced delays, but the approach roadwork reconstruction was completed in 2014. The bridge work was started at the end of 2015 and was projected to be completed on July 31, 2019. However, the bridge construction was not actually completed until January of 2020.
Shortly after the bridge was opened, it was officially named the Olgiati Bridge after Peter Rudolf “Rudy” Olgiati. Olgiati was on the City Commission from 1946 to 1951 and was the Mayor of Chattanooga from 1951 to 1963. He was able to use his power to get state and federal grants, which he used to expand the airport and interstate system. In fact, Chattanooga became the first major city in Tennessee to have a completed interstate system. Olgiati was also instrumental in getting the bridge approved and built.
References
AISC: https://www.aisc.org/globalassets/nsba/conference-proceedings/2020/2020-wsbs---olgiati---rev-3.pdf
Chattanooga Radio and TV: https://chattanoogaradiotv.com/general/why-did-they-name-it-the-ol-johnny-bridge/
Chattanooga Times Free Press: https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2015/nov/15/us-27-rebuild-olgiati-i-24-about-begin/
Local 3 News: https://www.local3news.com/tdot-weekend-olgiati-bridge-work-completed-but-i-24-e-will-be-a-mess/article_e319b885-57d0-5188-a3fc-a433d8616880.html