Highways, Roads and Bridges

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Bridge Study Act

This bill requires the Tennessee Department of Transportation to study the feasibility of building a new bridge over the Mississippi River that connects Tennessee and Arkansas.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Tennessee Department of Transportation to conduct a study on developing a third bridge across the Mississippi River connecting Tennessee and Arkansas, including related highway facilities and structures needed for the project.
• The department must report its findings, including any legislative recommendations, by February 1, 2027.
• The report must identify available funds from federal, state, or local sources to initiate the development of this bridge and specify the timing for initiating such development.

Who It Names or Affects

• Tennessee Department of Transportation
• Transportation and safety committee of the Tennessee Senate
• House committee with jurisdiction over transportation infrastructure

Terms To Know

Department of Transportation

The state agency responsible for managing roads, bridges, and other forms of transportation.

Jurisdiction

The authority or power to make decisions about a specific area or issue.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify the exact cost or timeline for building the bridge.
• It does not guarantee that the bridge will be built after the study is completed.

Official Summary Text

This bill requires

t
he
d
epartment of
t
ransportation
to
conduct a study regarding the development and viability of a new, third bridge crossing the Mississippi River and connecting to Arkansas, together with related highway facilities and structures needed to complete the bridge project. On or before Februar
y 1, 2027, the
d
epartment
must
report its findings, including any legislative recommendations, from the study to the transportation and safety committee of the senate and the committee in the house of representatives having jur
isdiction over transportation infrastructure issues. The report
must
identify funds available through federal, state, or local sources to initiate the development of this bridge and the timing for initiating such development.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 2058
By Towns

SENATE BILL 1836
By Akbari
SB1836
011462
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 54,
relative to a new bridge project crossing the
Mississippi River.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. The Department of Transportation shall conduct a study regarding the
development and viability of a new, third bridge crossing the Mississippi River and connecting to
Arkansas, together with related highway facilities and structures needed to complete the bridge
project. On or before February 1, 2027, the Department shall report its findings, including any
legislative recommendations, from the study to the transportation and safety committee of the
senate and the committee in the house of representatives having jurisdiction over transportation
infrastructure issues. The report shall identify funds available through federal, state, or local
sources to initiate the development of this bridge and the timing for initiating such development.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.