MATTHEW BURNETTE, Staff Writer

Work on the Old Stone Fort Bridge replacement project has been halted until after an administrative hearing with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation in May as confirmed by Meghan Ploch, the Regional Director of External Affairs for the Chattanooga Environmental Field Office.

“TDEC decided that we’re going to hold off until May which is when that ARAP (Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit) appeal hearing is scheduled. So we’re going to have that appeal hearing first,” said Ploch.

An ARAP is issued to “persons who wish to make an alteration to a stream, river, lake or wetland” according to TDEC’s website.

The appeal was filed on behalf of the Old Stone Fort Bridge Preservation Group, an opposition group to the bridge project.

“Quite honestly, if you allow them to go ahead and move the bridge or tear the bridge down or whatever and start work, it really makes our court case moot and we’re just wasting $300 an hour on legal fees needlessly if they’re allowed to go ahead and continue even while there’s a case pending,” said Gary Kiviniemi, the president of the Bridge Preservation Group.

The administrative hearing is scheduled for May 15, 2025.