Bridge Set to Close for Two Months, Business Owners Worried
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CAMDEN, Tenn. — For 75 days the Tennessee Department of Transportation will close the Birdsong bridge for repairs. But Timothy Primm, owner of Lu Lu’s Place, says being so close to the bridge puts his business at a disadvantage. “When they shut this bridge down I will no longer be able to get any of my beer deliveries,” Primm said. “I am working on trying to figure out how I will go about purchasing beer to keep my bar open.” A public meeting was held at the Camden city hall Thursday night where TDOT laid out detour routes and answered questions about the $2 million project. Bob Keast, owner of Birdsong Resort and Marina says even though the repairs are needed, things will get worse before they get better. “There’s no doubt that TDOT is doing a good job at their job, I’m worried about the public, the people that are using the exits, are they going to be OK,” Keast said. Residents south of I-40 will have to take exit 126 toward Camden to access I-40 and residents north of I-40 will have to use the same detour. West and east bound I-40 ramps will remain open but Keast says the directions are far too confusing. “There’s not gonna be a tom tom in the world that’s gonna be able to figure this one out, unless you just absolutely just hand somebody a map,” Keast said. For now businesses say they’ll have to figure out a plan. “All my entertainment comes from the east side so, they won’t be able to have access to me without a 15 mile detour,” Primm said. Construction on the bridge is set to start Jan. 6.
