Beam problems on the replacement bridges on the Interstate 75-Interstate 24 split project has caused work on the bridges to stop.

Rae Anne Bradley, a spokesperson for TDOT, told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that beams on the two bridges on South Moore and McBrien Roads do not meet requirements stated in the contract. 

The unspecified problems associated with the beams were discovered during a routine inspection of the $161 million project.

Officials said the contractor, Wright Brothers Construction out of Charleston, Tennessee, has been working with TDOT to find a solution that will have less impact on the project’s budget and on motorists.

A spokesperson for Wright Brothers told the TFP that five beams will be replaced before going forward with concrete decking replacement. There will be no alterations to the timeline for the completion of the project.

The two bridges which link East Ridge to Brainerd over I-24 were dismantled last July. Work on the bridges was slated to be completed by late 2025.

TDOT’s spokesperson told the TFP that the department will inform the public of how the work delay will affect the timeline for reopening the bridges. The additional expense to address the problem will be absorbed by the contractor. 

The work on the project is about 40 percent complete, officials said.