Bridges and Viaducts

Rivers and interstate highways create potential barriers for bicyclists traveling around and through the OKI Region. Bicycle access to bridges and viaducts is an important part of the on-road system. Several bridges of importance to bicyclists have been completed or are underway, including the following five examples. In most cases, the replacement bridges have wide shoulders for bicycle travel as well as 42" railings--minimum height for bicycles. In some cases, there are, or will be, sidewalks for pedestrians.

• The I-75 Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge was completed in 1996 and provides non-motorized access over I-75 between Anthony Wayne Boulevard and Section Road in Hamilton County.

• The Taylor-Southgate Bridge (formerly the Central Bridge) opened in 1995 and provides bicycle and pedestrian access over the Ohio River between Newport, KY and Cincinnati, OH. There are four 12' travel lanes with a 4' shoulder and an 8' sidewalk on each side. The expansion joints have created some problems for bicyclists.

• The Elizabethtown Bridge in southwestern Hamilton County opened in 1995 and provides access over the Great Miami River. The bridge has two 12' travel lanes with a 6' shoulder on each side.

• The South Milford Road Bridge in Clermont County opened in the fall of 1996. The original bridge was 19' wide. The replacement bridge is 32' wide with two 12' travel lanes and a 4' shoulder on each side.

• The Hopewell Road Bridge near Loveland in Hamilton County was replaced in 1997. The previous bridge was 19' wide; the new bridge is 42' wide with an additional 6' sidewalk on the north side of the bridge. The roadway is striped for a westbound through lane, a westbound left turn lane, and an eastbound through lane.

• The former L&N bridge over the Ohio River connecting Cincinnati and Newport, was purchased by the Newport Southbank Bridge Company in 2000, renovated and opened as the Purple People Bridge in 2003 for the exclusive use of non-motorized travel.