South Chickamauga Creek Greenway

When completed, the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway will be a 12-mile, multi-use trail from Camp Jordan to the Tennessee River via the Riverwalk.  It will run through metro areas, forests, and wetlands. The extensive use of elevated boardwalks along several steep bluffs through the forest that surrounds South Chickamauga Creek offers a unique perspective to the trail user. This also results in less environmental impact than a traditional at-grade trail.

A TDOT Enhancement grant partially funded this project, and a Categorical Exclusion (CE) was sought as part of NEPA. S&ME performed the environmental reviews and assessments, including protected species and jurisdictional waters assessments, along the 2.6 mile segment of greenway. Two areas of wetlands were identified and delineated, and the trail was aligned in a manner to avoid impacts to those areas. The trail’s stream crossings required an Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit (ARAP) from the state; a Section 26A from the TVA; and clearance from the USACE. S&ME coordinated the project review with TDOT to obtain the CE for the project.

S&ME also provided geotechnical engineering services for the elevated portions of the boardwalk and for two bridges. Our team also conducted deep foundation and construction inspection for the bridge foundations and abutments. During construction, S&ME was selected by the contractor to provide materials testing for the walking path.

S&ME also provided natural resources and geotechnical services for a one-mile section of the greenway that connects to the existing Riverwalk trail under Amnicola Highway and extending approximately 2,200 feet until crossing the South Chickamauga Creek with a 190 feet long pedestrian bridge. Natural resources services included jurisdictional waters and protected species assessments, bat habitat mitigation, and TVA, USACE, and TDEC permitting and coordination. Construction of this phase was completed in 2016.

S&ME is currently providing natural resources services for the final 1.5 miles of the greenway project, which is being constructed in two phases, the first of which is projected to begin construction in 2017.