Old Rugby Pike on Brewster Bridge gateway restored in Big South Fork Recreation Area
RUGBY, Tenn. (October 1, 2026) – A crucial access point to the Clear Fork River in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is officially secure once again.
Following a successful final walkthrough on Sept. 28, USACE Nashville District issued a notice of substantial completion to contractor Cornerstone Engineering Inc., marking the successful end of critical infrastructure repairs to Brewster Bridge Road.
This milestone restores safe access to canoe and kayak access point underneath Brewster Bridge after a severe slope failure along the Clear Fork River threatened to permanently compromise the scenic corridor.
This extensive repair project addressed severe slope failure and longitudinal surface cracking caused by high water events.
“Following previous high-water events, saturated soils beneath the roadway contributed to localized slope movement. That movement caused the embankment to slough and resulted in longitudinal surface cracking along Old Rugby Pike,” said by Stephen Logan, Project Manager with the Nashville District. “To repair the roadway and reduce the risk of similar damage in the future, the project replaced and upsize the storm-drainage culvert and rebuild the roadway foundation with properly placed subbase material. These improvements will strengthen the roadway and improve subsurface drainage by directing stormwater safely back toward the river.”
To ensure the protection of the area's rich history, the NPS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Nashville District closely coordinated to resolve potential environmental and historical concerns by mandating active archeologist monitoring throughout the construction contract.
The successful completion of the road repair represents the culmination of a multi-year interagency partnership. The NPS and USACE officially signed an Interagency Agreement on April 24, 2022, tasking the Corps with executing the project's initiation requirements. By 2023, senior leadership strategically shifted the project delivery method to a design-bid-build contract to better serve the project's specific requirements.
“The partnership between Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District continues to be a tremendous benefit to both the park and the public,” said by Niki Nicholas, superintendent of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. “By combining our resources and expertise, we are able to accomplish important infrastructure projects more efficiently, stretch federal dollars further, and provide lasting improvements for our visitors.”
The Nashville District continues to manage a diverse portfolio of projects across multiple National Parks in the region, operating at various stages of development. The Corps remains committed to supporting these vital recreation and conservation areas as future projects are further developed and funded.
The Nashville District can provide technical assistance to the National Park Service thanks to a USACE program designed to avoid duplication of federal capabilities.
The Interagency and International Services (IIS) Program authorizes the Corps of Engineers to provide technical services and manage construction projects for non-Department of Defense federal agencies, state and local governments, tribal nations, private U.S. firms, international organizations, and foreign governments.
The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/About/Districts/Nashville-District/, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on X (formerly Twitter) at http://www.x.com/nashvillecorps. Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest Nashville District employment and contracting opportunities at https://www.linkedin.com/company/u-s-army-corps-of-engineers-nashville-district.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
