Knoxville reopens Third Creek’s Zig Zag Bridge as another greenway repair moves toward reopening
Knoxville TN – The rebuilt Zig Zag Bridge on Third Creek Greenway reopened April 3, restoring a key west-to-downtown route while James White repairs continue.
Knoxville reopened the rebuilt Zig Zag Bridge on Third Creek Greenway on Friday, April 3, restoring one of the route’s best-known pinch points after a winter closure for repairs. The City of Knoxville posted the reopening notice on April 2, and Knoxville Daily Sun also reported the bridge was set to reopen the next day. ([knoxvilletn.gov](https://www.knoxvilletn.gov/news/2026/rebuilt_greenway_zig_zag_bridge_reopens))
The work was driven by clear safety problems, not cosmetic upgrades. In its reopening update, the city said parts of the original bridge were rotten, a large hole had opened up, and the old deck surface had become slick. City crews rebuilt the 200-foot bridge down to the posts, reused the metal railing, installed pressure-treated lumber, and replaced the old shingles with metal safety treads intended to improve traction for walkers, runners, and cyclists. ([knoxvilletn.gov](https://www.knoxvilletn.gov/news/2026/rebuilt_greenway_zig_zag_bridge_reopens))
Why this matters beyond recreation
This stretch of Third Creek is more than a park amenity. In its earlier closure notice, the city described the greenway as a popular through route for bicyclists commuting from West Knoxville to downtown and the University of Tennessee area. During the closure, the bicycle detour used Painter Avenue, while other parts of the greenway remained open from the Painter Avenue access west to Bearden and from Tyson Park to the UT campus. ([knoxvilletn.gov](https://www.knoxvilletn.gov/news/2026/third_creek_greenway_bridge_to_be_repaired))
That helps explain why the reopening matters for daily movement as well as weekend use. According to the city’s greenway route page, Third Creek Greenway runs 5.3 miles and forms part of 18 miles of connected greenway system. It links into Neyland, Sequoyah, and Bearden Village greenways, making the route useful for residents trying to move between neighborhoods, parks, campus areas, and waterfront-adjacent paths without relying entirely on streets. ([knoxvilletn.gov](https://www.knoxvilletn.gov/government/city_departments_offices/parks_and_recreation/greenways_trails/third_creek_greenway))
What residents should watch next
The next reopening to watch is on James White Greenway near Volunteer Landing. The city said in its April 2 update that repairs just east of Volunteer Landing are progressing and the segment is currently estimated to reopen in about a month. That remains an estimate, not a fixed date, and the city has said weather can affect the work. ([knoxvilletn.gov](https://www.knoxvilletn.gov/news/2026/rebuilt_greenway_zig_zag_bridge_reopens))
That separate project covers the closed section between Volunteer Landing and Riverside Drive near Gov. Ned McWherter Park. In its original repair notice, the city said crews were addressing broken, sagging asphalt and damaged fencing, with erosion and slope problems requiring more than a simple resurfacing job. The April 2 update said a longer 400-foot section had been disintegrating and the railing was falling toward the river, with crews rebuilding the subgrade, reinforcing the riverbank, and adding a new fence as work continues. ([knoxvilletn.gov](https://www.knoxvilletn.gov/news/2026/city_crews_to_repair_james_white_greenway))
For Knoxville residents, the practical takeaway is simple: one important greenway bottleneck is open again now, and the repair was designed to make the bridge safer underfoot. But if your regular route uses the waterfront near Volunteer Landing, one more closure is still in play for at least several more weeks based on the city’s current timeline. ([knoxvilletn.gov](https://www.knoxvilletn.gov/news/2026/rebuilt_greenway_zig_zag_bridge_reopens))
