Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) officials call it “tedious” work — a much-needed strengthening of the Highway 412/100 bridge over the Buffalo River in Linden. The project has been ongoing for months, resulting in a shift in the traffic pattern and the installation of steel plates on the highway.
 

Neighbors reached out to WOPC after noticing what appears to be a lack of visible progress in recent weeks, along with concerns about the steel plates.
 

“Trucks slam into the plates at all hours, and it can be heard nearly half a mile away,” a neighbor told WOPC.
 

So when will it end? Is the project on time? Within budget?
 

We reached out to Erin Zeigler of the Tennessee Department of Transportation for an update. Zeigler told WOPC that workers may be present, even if they aren’t visible.
 

“Repairs on the west side of the bridge abutment had to be performed from underneath the bridge, which may be why workers were not seen,” Zeigler explained.
 

“Also, the backwall on the east side of the bridge abutment had to be completely removed and re-poured. Along with rebuilding the entire backwall for this abutment, the contractor had to lift the beams and replace bearing pads — all while maintaining traffic through the work zone. This was all tedious work that did take some time to perform. Additionally, there were lengthy delays in the manufacturing of the new expansion joint. This issue will soon be addressed,” she added.
 

The project is being managed by Jones Brothers Construction, a contractor that frequently performs work in the area. Zeigler confirmed that the project is “within the current contract amount” and proceeding on schedule.
 

The end is in sight, says Zeigler: “The project is still scheduled to be finished on the original completion date of July 31, 2025.”