Clarksville, Tennessee, officials gathered this week to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Red River Pedestrian Bridge.
The project will create a seamless connection across the Red River and link several miles of Clarksville’s greenway trails.
Once complete, the bridge will connect the Red River East and Austin Peay State University trails to the Pollard Road Trail, resulting in approximately 11 miles of continuous greenway. The new route will provide an off-road connection between neighborhoods, parks, and key city areas.
“This is an exciting, landmark moment in the life and history of our outstanding Clarksville Parks & Recreation Department, and all residents and visitors served by it,” Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts said in a release. “We have found a creative way to connect distinct areas of our City by way of the Red River. Those who traverse this new pedestrian bridge and the newly connected greenway will be exposed to the natural beauty of Clarksville in a whole new way.”
The $5.8 million project is funded in part by the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Program, which covers 80% of the construction, engineering inspection, and TDOT oversight engineering costs.
To accommodate construction, two sections of the Clarksville Greenway — from the lift station to the Kraft Street bridge on the south side and from the Water Treatment Plant to the end of the trail at the river on the north side — will remain closed until the project is complete, anticipated in March 2026
“Once this bridge is complete, people will be able to travel from Downtown Clarksville to Tiny Town Road without getting into vehicle traffic,” Clarksville Parks & Recreation Director Jennifer Letourneau said in a release. “This is a transformational project for how residents experience the outdoors in our city.”
Closure signage has been installed along the trail as a safety measure during construction.
