LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – “I bet there’s eight-inches of asphalt here.”  That’s what one crew member was heard saying as the groundbreaking began on the Central Avenue Bridge on Monday morning in downtown La Follette.WLAF’s Charlie Hutson shares his photos from Monday as he watched workers take some big strides.

Aside from signage, barrels and lane shifts, the first visible refurbishment work on the Central Avenue Bridge began Monday morning as crews started the process of working their way down to the deck of the 98-year -old structure.

Phase I of the refurbishment of the Central Avenue Bridge is expected to run through December and possibly into January.  After that Phase II begins and will likely run well into the Spring of 2020.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 09/24/2019-6AM)