The quest for a new pedestrian bridge in Knoxville has hit another roadblock, with federal funds being elusive once more. Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon shared the disappointing update on Wednesday, revealing that the city was unsuccessful in securing a RAISE grant from the federal government. In a statement obtained by WVLT, Kincannon said, "While we are disappointed we did not receive the federal RAISE grant, we will forge ahead looking for other funding opportunities."

Eager to span the gap between the University of Tennessee and south Knoxville, the planned bridge finds its future uncertain after this denial. Trying for the second time, the RAISE grant was sought to support this initiative valued at an estimated $25 million due to the contribution it would offer to the community's mobility and connectivity. Despite the setback, optimism remains with the Mayor commenting on Facebook, “With the $20 million from the state and key partners committed to this project, I am confident that the Pedestrian Bridge project will come to fruition. I look forward to continued collaboration with the people of Knoxville, the State, and the University of Tennessee as we work together to carry out the vision from the South Knoxville community,” in an announcement that was covered by WATE.

The RAISE grants, distributed through the U.S. Department of Transportation, inject funding into various types of infrastructure projects across the nation, including road, rail, transit, and port developments. Knoxville reapplied for the grant in March after their first attempt in 2023 was also met with disappointment. The bridge itself is not a new idea, having been discussed for more than two decades as a means to enhance Knoxville's infrastructure.

The city had previously taken proactive measures by purchasing land for the bridge in October 2023 at 2323 W. Blount Avenue, setting the stage for future development. This time around, as they applied for the funding, the bridge was envisaged to connect from Clancy Avenue over Fort Loudoun Lake to a pedestrian concourse between Pratt Pavilion and Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center on the UT campus, as was reported by WBIR. Knoxville now faces the challenge of looking for alternative avenues to fund the bridge that aims to strengthen ties between the university and the local community.