P. R. Olgiati Bridge
| P. R. Oligati Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35°03′28″N 85°18′59″W / 35.0578°N 85.3164°WCoordinates: 35°03′28″N 85°18′59″W / 35.0578°N 85.3164°W |
| Carries |
   US 27 / SR 29 / SR 27
|
| Crosses | Tennessee River |
| Locale | Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| Other name(s) | Ol' Johnny |
| Named for | P.R. Olgiati |
| Preceded by | Market Street Bridge |
| Followed by | Marion Memorial Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Girder bridge |
| Material | Steel |
| History | |
| Construction end | 1959 |
The P. R. Olgiati Bridge, nicknamed the "Ol' Johnny", is a steel girder bridge across the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, Tennessee completed in 1959. It is named for former mayor and long time political boss of Chattanooga, P.R. Olgiati. Chattanooga was a growing city during the 1950s. To expand the city and to allow more ways to cross the Tennessee River, the P. R. Olgiati Bridge was one of multiple bridges built. The route carries US 27 and SR 27 across the Tennessee river.
The P. R. Olgiati Bridge is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The bridge is one of a few major bridges that cross the Tennessee River in Chattanooga. These bridges include the Walnut Street Bridge, Market Street Bridge, Veterans Memorial Bridge, and Wilkes T. Thrasher Bridge. The P. R. Olgiati Bridge carries a controlled-access portion of US 27, which is a U.S. highway that travels south to north. The bridge crosses the Tennessee River just north of downtown, and links the freeway across the ridge en route to Signal Mountain and Red Bank. Surrounding the bridge is the Tennessee Riverwalk on the south side and just before getting to the bridge, US 27 crosses Riverfront Parkway.
A few years before the idea for the Olgiati Bridge became a discussion, the Wilkes T. Thrasher Bridge had been built in 1955 to provide a way of traveling across the Tennessee River. These bridge expansions were made to help the growth of Chattanooga and to expand the use of the river, as well as to provide more ways of travel. Born in 1901, in the state of Tennessee, Peter Rudolph Olgiati, mainly known as P.R. Olgiati, was appointed to the City Commission and filled the seat of an unexpired term, and later became mayor of Chattanooga for 12 years. He supported the expansion of Chattanooga and building bridges was part of his plan. The bridge expansions were made to contribute to the growth of Chattanooga and to expand the use of the river, as well as to provide more ways of travel for anyone passing through the area.
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