Imagine there was a bridge that connected Ooltewah and Soddy-Daisy. State Rep. Greg Martin, R-Hixson, said building a new bridge across the Tennessee River is one of his long-term goals.

"I want to see us build a bridge. It's not going to happen this year, next year or the next, but it's a long-term plan that you build a bridge from Ooltewah to Soddy-Daisy," Martin said Thursday to North River Pachyderm Club members gathered at Lillie Mae's Place restaurant. "And here's the thing about what would be good about it: It would be great for economic development."

Martin, who represents part of Soddy-Daisy, said he plans to discuss plans for a new bridge with the next elected governor of Tennessee. Voters will decide the state's next chief executive in 2026 to replace outgoing Republican Gov.

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