1895-1968,2014 Trail/(BigFour+B&O) Bridge over Ohio River at Louisville, IL

3D Satellite
[I saved the image because it captures the pier work
for the new part of the I-64 bridge.]

(Bridge Hunter; Historic Bridges, includes videos of light shows; HAER)

The Big Four Bridge as it exists today consists of six spans, three Baltimore through truss spans and three Parker through trusses. There are two approach spans on the south and one on the north end of the bridge. The bridge carried the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad over the Ohio River between Louisville and Jeffersonville, Indiana. Piers supporting the approach spans are of concrete, those in the center are masonry. Connections are riveted. The Big Four Bridge was built in 1929 by the Louisville & Jeffersoville Bridge Co. on the piers of an earlier bridge. The central spans are 547' long. The Big Four Bridge was abandoned following the merger that formed the Penn Central Railroad.
[HAER]

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Americo Express posted

The Big Four Bridge is a historic six-span former railroad truss bridge that spans the Ohio River, connecting Louisville, Kentucky, and Jeffersonville, Indiana. Here are some key details about it:

Construction and History:

The bridge was completed in 1895 and was originally used for rail traffic.

It underwent updates in 1929 but was eventually taken out of rail service in 1968.

In 2014, the bridge was converted to bicycle and pedestrian use.

The name “Big Four” comes from the defunct Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis Railway, which was nicknamed the “Big Four Railroad.”

The largest single span of the bridge is 547 feet (167 meters), and the entire bridge spans 2,525 feet (770 meters).

Access to the Big Four Bridge is now limited to pedestrians and cyclists.

Location and Connectivity:

The bridge connects Louisville, Kentucky, and Jeffersonville, Indiana.

A pedestrian ramp on the Kentucky side was opened in 2013, followed by the Jeffersonville ramp in 2014.

Prior to this, the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge downstream was the only bridge allowing bicyclists and pedestrians to travel between Louisville and neighboring Indiana cities.

Kara Beth posted, cropped

 

Roger Smith posted
The Big Four bridge over the Mighty Ohio River in Louisville
Tim Shanahan shared

ColorKinetics, one of four photos
[The bridge has become "the city's most popular attraction." It had a million visitors during its first two years.]

Ted Gregory updated

I waited for this 15-barge tow to pass under the bridge. Under the first span, you can see construction of one of the towers for the new cable-stay highway bridge.

I had to worry about getting my shoes in the mud when I took this shot.

They have built ramps on both ends to turn the bridge into a trail.

So now you can get detail shots of the riveting.

And other perspectives that would otherwise be very illegal.

Fans of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad posted
I have to assume that this bridge was the forerunner of the BIG-4 bridge. Note the double headed engines and about a dozen cars. The approaches must have been a very steep grade.
[The B&O/Ohio & Mississippi shared a route between North Vernon, IN and Louisville, KY.]

Chris Stivers posted
Big 4 Bridge in Louisville Ky

Bill Pruehousner commented on Leo's posting
Pedestrian approach to the bridge (2015)

Glenn A Marriner posted
Here a shot my friend and me took. We're trespassing, we climbed approximately 400' straight up on the support pillars on the Kentucky side of the Ohio river in Louisville in 1998. This is looking towards Jefferson and Clarksville Indiana over the Ohio. The old Big Four CCC&SL bridge, now a foot bridge.

Brian Little posted

Chris Spear posted
The Big Four in Louisville, Ky. on fire. Now a rail trail, iirc. Not my photo.
Troy Nolen How does a rail trail burn?
Chris Bollinger That's before it became a rail trail.

Wendell Reed posted
Louisville

Brian Patterson posted
Ben StalveyGroup Admin 4100
[The reason for including this posting is the following comment. Waterways are not only good for bulk materials, they are good for oversized loads. To transport that crane by trucks, it would have to be disassembled and then reassembled.]

Noah Schell commented on Brian's posting
I’m on that boat here’s us going down through downtown Louisville

Rob Minton posted

Str. J.D. Ayres

Upbound between Miles 601 & 602 Ohio River

Big Four bridge and Towhead Island at top of picture.

William and Mary Bill Bauer Collection

David Smith: A part of Union Barge Line’s “Great White Fleet”, fuel flat on the starboard side.

I generally avoid political subjects, but this is a fantastic photo. I passed up another photo that caught it with yellow over blue because the lights cycle.

Waterfront Park posted

Click Bate in a Facebook Advertisement
[This shows that the approach they had to build for the trail is a non-trivial structure.]

1 of 20 photos posted by We Work the Waterways

We are a little late posting this, but as the old saying goes “Better late than never!” 

The Great Steamboat Race was held on the Ohio River along the Louisville City Front the Wednesday prior to The Kentucky Derby. 

This race is held annually before Derby Day between The BELLE OF LOUISVILLE and THE BELLE OF CINCINNATI. 

Our photos show the Sternwheel Boats prior to the race. Past races have almost always ended with THE BELLE OF LOUISVILLE as the winner, but this year bragging rights went to The Queen City and BB Riverboats BELLE OF CINCINNATI.  Congratulations! 

Courtesy of Steve Griggs.

 

Louisville Tourism posted
Friday night lights on the Big Four Bridge 🌈✨ 

(new window)  (source)

(new window) This is why they paint the clearance numbers on one of the piers.

4:09 YouTube ""History in Your Own Backyard" video (source) Finished in 1895 and last used in 1969 and the approach spans were scrapped in 1974.

Facebook postings: Gary Miller (colored lights at night), Raymond Noel, Ralph Berg, Michael Fromholt, Chris Kilroy, Tim Shanahan (3 views) and Joseph Hoffman (16 photos).

9 photos

18 photos