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Louisville, Kentucky has repurposed a 118-year-old railroad bridge over the Ohio River into the longest pedestrian bridge in the United States. It connects Louisville with Jeffersonville, Indiana by foot, bicycle, and mindset. Spectacular sunrises and sunsets can be viewed on a regular basis. You can marvel at the power of the river as it rolls beneath you toward New Orleans. You can see how the river widens at The Falls of the Ohio to almost a mile.
The Louisville side offers a comfortable quarter mile incline up to the 2525’ walk across. Bikes peddle down the middle while walkers have a lane on either side. No pets are allowed. The walk takes about an hour and offers good health, a chance for dreaming, and look over Louisville’s river roots. The old bridge has been transformed into a gathering of Louisville families of all ages and ethnicities as they walk up and over The Ohio River. What a wonderful space has been created!
Called the Big Four, it is a Truss bridge that had a single railroad track down the middle. It was completed in September of 1895. During its construction 37 lives were lost. A crane was toppled by a gust of wind that killed 22. Due to huge losses during construction, it was sold to The Big Four Railroad. The Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroads entered Louisville using this bridge. It was updated in 1929 using the old bridge as a support.
The Big Four Bridge is part of Waterfront Park. It includes water features, playgrounds, walking paths, green space, picnic areas, restrooms, parking and The Great Lawn. A bigger than life Lincoln Memorial commemorates his visit to Louisville in 1841 and his lifelong connections to Kentucky. Overall Waterfront Park is 85 acres. There’s more to come. Plazas with trees and park benches will offer shade and a place to rest after your journey.
Hours of operation:
Park: 6:00 am -11:00 pm
Waterplay area 11:00 am -8:00 pm
Bridge: 24/7
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October 4, 2023
