03-04-2025
Broad Street Bridge reopening delay causes frustration in downtown Elizabethton
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) – Since its closure, the Broad Street Bridge in Elizabethton has led to more cars entering the downtown area due to detours. However, local business owners say this has only created more problems.
The bridge sustained damage after Hurricane Helene, which led to its closure. The traffic that usually goes across the bridge is rerouted through downtown.
Broad Street bridge reopening delayed another month
'The downtown has become very busy, lots and lots of traffic,' Paula Augustine said. Augustine's business, August Muse, has been located in downtown Elizabethton for almost three years.
Augustine and April Proffitt, who have owned All Star Sports and Country Crafts for almost 30 years, said the biggest issue is the speed of cars passing through.
'It's 20 miles an hour marked,' Augustine said. 'And 80% of the people are going way faster than 20 miles per hour.'
'It's really how they speed through here,' Proffitt said. 'It's really just dangerous for people, especially with little kids. You really have to watch.'
The bridge was set to open at the end of May. However, on Wednesday, TDOT announced the opening would be delayed until the beginning of July. Augustine and Proffitt said they were informed of this delay at a merchant meeting on Thursday morning.
'I'm just thinking, I don't know how we can keep on with the traffic,' Proffitt said.
'This is really going to impact our downtown area,' said Augustine. 'Especially during the summer months, with more people driving through and using this as a pass-through. And less people being able to feel safe parking downtown and utilizing the downtown.'
During the morning meeting, Augustine said they were informed that the Fourth of July celebration could be relocated if construction isn't finished by July 3. David Nanny with Elizabethton Parks & Recreation confirmed this with News Channel 11.
Courtney Bean with Main Street Elizabethton also told News Channel 11 that any events planned by her organization or the city would go as planned. However, Augustine said the businesses already feel the impact.
'Our regular customers don't come downtown anymore because they can't park,' Augustine said. 'The traffic that's going by is so fast, they feel unsafe trying to get in and out of their car, trying to parallel park on the street.'
Bean encourages the public to utilize the public parking spaces across downtown to avoid issues caused by parking on the street. She also urges those walking to use signaled crosswalks.
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