TAP grant announced for Covered Bridge
Published 5:15 pm Tuesday, May 5, 2020
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NASHVILLE – Senator Rusty (R-Johnson City), Senator Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol), and Representative John Holsclaw (R-Elizabethton) announced Tuesday, May 5 that Elizabethton has been awarded a $797,424 grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to improve the Elizabethton Historic Covered Bridge. The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant is for structural rehabilitation of the bridge which spans the Doe River between Riverside Drive and N. Main Street to Hattie Avenue.
“This bridge is a tremendously important part of our heritage, not only in Elizabethton, but in the State of Tennessee,” said Sen. Crowe. “We are very pleased that the grant has been awarded and look forward to seeing this project completed. We congratulate our local officials for submitting a successful grant application which we were proud to support.”
“This bridge is an icon in Northeast Tennessee,” added Sen. Lundberg. “There are only a few historic covered bridges that remain in Tennessee. This grant will make needed improvements so it can be preserved for future generations. We appreciate Governor Lee and Department of Transportation officials for their role in awarding this grant.”
“I’m pleased that the next phase of this very worthy project will move forward,” said Rep. Holsclaw. “The Elizabethton Covered Bridge is an important landmark in our community and I’m grateful it will be restored for future generations to enjoy. I thank TDOT and our local leaders for helping to secure this grant.”
The TAP program began providing funds to local governments in 1991. It is a competitive grant program. More than $317 million in grants has been distributed by the department since to improve access and provide a better quality of life for the people of Tennessee. The money has gone to 267 communities across the Volunteer State to build sidewalks, bike and pedestrian trails and to renovate historic train depots and other transportation related structures.
