Photographs of the Bridges
Big Four Bridge, Louisville, Kentucky
The Big Four Railroad Bridge in Louisville, Kentucky, opened in 1895, is located about a half-mile east of downtown Louisville. The bridge crosses the Ohio River from Louisville to Jeffersonville, in Indiana. The bridge is more than 2,500 feet long and is elevated more than 50 feet above water level to allow uninterrupted shipping traffic. The bridge is a steel through-truss, consisting of a series of six round-topped steel truss spans sitting on tapered white stone piers. The name of the bridge derives from its being owned and operated by the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad, also known as the Big Four Railroad.
By the mid-1960s, changes in railroad ownership and freight requirements resulted in the owner at that time, the Penn Central Railroad, deciding that the bridge was too expensive to repair and maintain. The bridge ceased being used in 1969, and the lengthy approaches to the bridge on both banks of the river were removed and sold for scrap metal. The rest of the bridge sat neglected, a visual blot on the Louisville skyline, for almost 40 years.
Fortunately for the bridge tourist community, as well as for greater Louisville, the decision was eventually made to rehabilitate the bridge and integrate it into the city trail and park system. To do this, the city completely redeveloped the landing area on the southern bank of the river into an extensive riverwalk and urban park system. The new approach ramp leading up to the bridge deck is a highlight of the development. To get joggers and bikers from river level to bridge level in the smallest space possible, the ramp was constructed of steel and cement in an enormous, sleek spiral that is visible from downtown and from the other Ohio River bridges. Signs at the end of the bridge indicate that it is open 24 hours a day and encourage kids and couples on romantic dates to walk across and enjoy the bridge. The entrance of the spiral ramp to the bridge is a large brick plaza. The bridge deck is cement, with bike lanes designated in the middle. The railings are lined with benches and historical exhibits. The center portion of the bridge even has speakers with piped-in music to encourage people to hang out.
There is a lengthier description of the bridge in Chapter 8 of my book, Bridgespotting: A Guide to Bridges that Connect People, Places, and Times.
