River Front
Lincoln bridge (on right) and Kennedy bridge crossing the Ohio River
4 Bridges
I grew up in the south-east corner of Missouri, the tri-state area. From our house you could arrive in another state, in a fairly short amount of time. Kansas and Oklahoma were fun states to visit, we had family everywhere. Thanks to having 9 aunts and uncles, a weekend trip to see family would happen often and could take us anywhere.
My favorite place to go was Oklahoma, not only was I raised to be a Sooner fan, but Oklahoma had something that I had not seen in Missouri yet, bridges.
Big 4 bridge
Big 4 bridge, Louisville, Ky.
When I first encountered the bridges spanning Grand Lake & Spring River, I was in awe. How could something like that even be built? I became an instant fan of Bridges. As we would drive across them, it seemed like time stood still. I would gaze across the water as the bridge spans zoomed by. I would count the boats and watch the birds go gliding by. It was such a magical moment for me as a child.
Then later, as I would see them in movies or news stories, I would just smile, and add them to my mental list of places I would see some day.
Big 4 walking bridge, Louisville, Ky.
The United States of America was in a good place, we were 100 years after establishing our country and 20 years from our internal fight. Industry around the eastern half of the country was flourishing and each area was doing what was needed to take care of the growth that was occurring. Louisville, Ky. was no exception. Louisville was established as a river freight community and it was time to expand on its transport needs. The city developed a project with the Big 4 railroad, which would connect Louisville with Jeffersonville, In. This would allow materials to be moved by rail, across the river and then on to other developing large cities like, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis. From these cities, products could go anywhere in the country that was needed. Louisville was growing, it was also growing as a railroad hub. It was establishing many links around the country, like its Nashville connection. This connection would later grow into an Atlanta connection, securing Louisville as a major hub around the country. This line allowed the city to connect with other major hubs like New Orleans and Memphis. The city was establishing itself as a major rail hub.
Walking ramp and platform leading to the Big 4 bridge, Louisville Riverfront
It was warm and sunny as I stepped out of the car. The breeze was perfect, feeling it on the back of my neck as I turned to get that precious first glimpse. It was magical, I was speechless as I took the enormous sight in. A million thoughts raced through my mind, I turned to my wife and simply smiled. The bridge did not disappoint, and I could not wait to take in all its greatness.
Lynn Family Stadium and steeple of St. Joseph Church (on left) as seen from the Big 4 bridge
We knew that we wanted to visit the riverfront and capture all the beauty it contained. When we pulled into the parking just east of the Big 4 bridge, the bridge loomed over us, in both a welcoming and overwhelming fashion. Grabbing the camera, we raced to the opening of the pathway and made our way up the spiraling structure to the bridge. The view of the city is incredible as you are walking, first to the north which takes in the Ohio River and landscape. As your direction shifts, the downtown businesses come into view, along with an incoming jet about every 6 minutes. Continuing on the path, Lynn Stadium and the top of St. Joseph Church comes into view. One more twist and the view across the bridge comes into view. It is a beautiful sight; the structure stretches up to the sky and seems larger than my senses can take in. We truly enjoyed our stroll across the bridge. It was a magical experience.
Abraham Lincoln Bridge
Abraham Lincoln bridge, Louisville, Ky.
The city of Louisville had a mess on their hands. You could say that the dream of commerce expansion to the neighboring state of Indiana worked too well. John F. Kennedy bridge was heavily congested during the business day, along with the rust like spots that developed during the late 1990’s. This led to citizen concern over safety. If the bridge was rusting after only 34 years of service, then how long till it would not be safe to use. To help ease these concerns, talk of a new bridge began in 2005 and great effort was taken to make sure the public was a part of the planning process. Many town hall style meetings were conducted during the study and design process, including the use of computer animated models of proposed bridge designs. Hundreds of people attended the meetings eager to contribute their feelings, suggestions, and desires.
Lincoln and Kennedy bridges as seen from the Big 4 bridge
With designs in hand, construction of the bridge began in 2013. The traffic began to flow across the bridge on December 6, 2015. The opening of the bridge was celebrated with a 50,000-person parade crossing the Ohio River in grand style. The parade was commemorated with a medallion that each participant received. This medallion has become the latest entry on my “must have” list.
Louisville Riverfront plaza
Walking along the patio, I could feel the sun warm on my face. My gaze held securely on the beautiful structure just off to my left. I knew the viewing area I would be using to observe, and photograph would be east of the Abraham Lincoln Bridge, so naturally I wanted a morning sun to light up the bridge brightly. No back light needed, I wanted to see every detail as it was, I wanted to take in every aspect of the bridge. I got more than I had hoped for. The tall concrete pillars were so splendid and powerful. The symmetrical positioning of the cables were so aesthetically pleasing, the construction team built an incredibly magnificent bridge. The 3 sections are positioned so perfectly, the cables reach out to the next set, like fingers that want to intertwine but they never quite reach.
Abraham Lincoln bridge, Louisville Ky.
The simple design of the bridge is what makes it beautiful. The other 3 bridges look just like how you would build bridges before the age of computers. Use as much steel as you can to make sure they are strong enough. Using computers to create models of the bridge not only allowed engineers to analyze every aspect of the needed levels of strength, but it allowed the bridge to have a state of strength, state of grace and a state of beauty.
John F. Kennedy Bridge
John F. Kennedy bridge crossing the Ohio River
Our country was in turmoil, it was the sixties, and we were being pulled emotionally and mentally in a million directions. The Vietnam war was being waged, which brought plenty of protest. Movements involving civil rights and voting reform were heating up. Multiple high-level assassinations stirred many into a frenzy. There was much frustration which showed during protests and marches as they escalated out of control. The newly built bridge in Louisville, Kentucky was used to help shed a little bit of light on the issues.
4 bridges along the Louisville Riverfront
Construction began on the new bridge in the spring of 1961 and wrapped up late in 1963. The news of JFK’s assassination still had the county in shock, so it was only natural that a movement began to name the bridge after the former president.
John F. Kennedy bridge alongside the Lincoln bridge
The bridge is a stark contrast to the Lincoln bridge that lies just a few feet away from it. The JFK bridge is a collection of steel beams with 4 peaks that create a rolling hill type of look. The two bridges are testaments to the level of technology they were designed with, much like comparing NASA of the 60’s to SpaceX. Both designs completed a wonderful bridge, just in a different fashion using the tools that they had. Every bridge is a magnificent achievement in both design and appearance.
A view of the support structure of the John F. Kennedy bridge
One of the many wonderful aspects of the Lincoln and Kennedy bridges is that they are really close. They are close enough to each other, that is no problem to take one of the several sidewalks that walk under both bridges. It was a warm Monday morning that I was capturing the bridges with my camera, so off I went on my stroll. The parking lot is east of the Lincoln bridge, which is east of the Kennedy bridge. Walking from the car, the Kennedy bridge is never out of sight, it just keeps getting bigger. Much like when you are driving to the Rocky Mountains, you see them long before you arrive. What begins out as a dot on the horizon, becomes something too big to be seen entirely.
John F. Kennedy bridge crossing the Ohio River
I was seeing the bridge 15 years after it was painted to cover all of the age spots. The paint was holding up well, I could see none of the spots. The color of the bridge was listed as beige, but in the light from the morning sun, it looked more like steel to me. This made the bridge look even more magnificent. I had a great time walking around and observing the bridge from many angles. Being able to walk under it and see all the base support was really enjoyable.
George Rogers Clark Bridge
George Rogers Clark, Louisville, Ky.
Surveyor, settler/founder and military man, George Rogers Clark was a man of many talents. In his historical but brief career, he served in many leadership roles on the battlefield during the Revolutionary War. Clark led many successful campaigns against the British army in the Kentucky area. This allowed the colonies to hold on to the northwest and keep the war to the east. When he wasn’t involved in battles, he surveyed and settled the area soon to be known as Kentucky and the surrounding area. He was credited with founding the Louisville Commonwealth, which would later grow into the city of Louisville.
George Rogers Clark bridge crossing the Ohio River
Fast forward 42 years and we find a bustling Louisville ready for expansion. The railroad was deeply in place and now it was time to expand to accommodate the growing legions of motor vehicles, along with providing additional markets for farms. The George Rogers Clark bridge has two “claims to fame”. The first one is that the local citizens voted down any attempt to use government funds to build the bridge, it was built with private money which caused it to be a toll bridge for 17 years. The second claim is that it was built using a new technique. The technique was to build it from the middle out, this would be the same technique used on many bridges. The bridge had several names but in 1949 was officially named after the founder of Louisville.
George Rogers Clark Bridge running in front of the Yum Center
I have loved each of these bridges, they are very different from each other, and each is unique in its own way. George Rogers Clark bridge does not disappoint. The other three bridges are anchored in the newly designed Riverfront, which adds a park-like feel as you watch it from the shore. The GRC Bridge flows into the downtown business district. So, visiting it adds a much deeper distinction. As it transitions into a city street, it passes by the Yum center. If you are going to watch a Louisville Cardinal basketball game or one of the many concerts or venues the Yum center hosts, then you will experience the GRC bridge in some manner.
Riverfront plaza next to the George Rogers Clark Bridge, Louisville Ky.
I drove about 2 miles as I made my way to the access road for the GRC. I found a parking spot and walked the two blocks to the bridge. There was a construction crew working on the street, after taking a few shots of them working, I walked down to the newly reinvented public walkway. There was some beautiful artwork to photograph, along with a spectacular view of the river and the other 3 bridges. A handful of fishermen added some wonderful depth to the scene.
I hope you have enjoyed this stroll around the Louisville Riverfront. If you have a bridge close to you that you love, be sure and drop a picture of it. I would love to see it.