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Chattanooga’s downtown waterfront near Ross’s Landing may have more problems than just the popular Passage, officials said Friday.

The city is checking possible structural issues adjacent to the hard concrete edge along the Tennessee River, said Larry Zehnder, parks and recreation administrator.

“There are possible other concerns,” Mr. Zehnder told the Chattanooga Downtown Redevelopment Corp. on Friday. The Redevelopment Corp. oversees some downtown construction projects and was involved in the redevelopment of the waterfront area.

Steve Leach, the city’s public works administrator, said the area near the downtown pier is being examined.

“We want to make sure the area behind the hard edge isn’t being eroded,” he said.

Ground-penetrating radar tests costing up to $8,000 may be used to check out the area, officials said. They gave no indication of any imminent safety hazard but said there are “settlement issues” in the ground near the concrete.

Mr. Zehnder said he would like to see professionals take an in-depth look at the potential problems. A structural engineer could be hired to evaluate the situation, officials said.

Earlier this week, an architectural firm hired to look at fixing structural issues at the Passage put the cost of repairs there at about $1.5 million.

The Passage, pier and concrete edge all were part of then-Mayor Bob Corker’s 21st Century Waterfront Project, a $120 million public-private initiative.

Bob Roza of TWH Architects Inc. said plans are to repair the Passage wall where tiles highlighting Cherokee culture had fallen off. In addition, a fix to alleviate concerns about electrical grounding will be made, he said.

Mr. Leach said the work on the Passage likely will be done by next summer.

Redevelopment Corp. attorney Mike McMahan said Friday that plans are to seek meetings with Hargreaves Associates and Continental Construction Co., contractors involved with the waterfront project, to seek help with funding Passage repairs.

City Chief Financial Officer Daisy Madison, chairwoman of the Redevelopment Corp., said the cost for Passage fixes will be paid with city funds, with the money coming from hotel/motel tax revenue that is earmarked for the waterfront.

Ms. Madison said the City Council must authorize capital funds for the work. Officials said the water attraction will remain interactive so visitors still will be able to wade in its pool.

The Redevelopment Corp. earlier had approved an $85,000 study to look at the problems of the Passage, which opened about three years ago.

Mr. Roza said work could begin on the Passage before winter.

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