THE BRIDGES OF TWO COUNTIES (and STATES)
For several years now, Ohio River communities in Southern Indiana and Kentucky have been working on pedestrian and bicycle projects that will connect Jeffersonville , Clarksville , and New Albany on the north bank, with Louisville to the south. This week, a jolt of good news from governors and mayors on both sides of the river gave watchers of this project reason to cheer.
The Big Four Bridge was a railroad crossing, built in 1895 and closed in 1969, of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St Louis company. The city of Jeffersonville has now pledged $2 million, along with Indiana ’s $8 million, in order to build a ramp up to the Big Four on the Indiana side. In addition, Kentucky pledged $12 million to complete the needed bridge decking. A spiral ramp approach on the Louisville side was finished last year.
The bridge refurbishing will put into place a major connector piece between trails and alternative transportation modes through the Kentucky and Indiana river communities here. A news release from newly-elected Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said construction of the Indiana-side ramp could begin later this year. Completion of the entire project is hoped to come by 2013.
Waterfront trails, parks, and the Big Four project have been ongoing on both sides of the Ohio River . This latest announcement comes at a time when city and state governments north and south have been looking for ways to decrease costs of two new bridge projects planned at Louisville in order to reduce congestion on the main Interstate 65 crossing there. Putting bike and ped access on the Big Four Bridge may enable cost-cutting measures on the other bridges, if they do not have to be built with non-car considerations. Currently, the older U. S. 31 or Second Street Clark Memorial Bridge does allow pedestrian and bicycle use.
