Newport Southbank Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newport Southbank Bridge |
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The bridge as viewed from Newport, Kentucky
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| Carries | Pedestrians |
| Crosses | Ohio River |
| Locale | Newport, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Other name(s) | Purple People Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Truss bridge |
| Total length | 2,670 feet (810 m) |
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Newport and Cincinnati Bridge
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| Location | Spans Ohio River, Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Built |
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| Architect | Becker, M.J.; et. al. |
| Architectural style | Subdivided Pratt truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000364 |
| Added to NRHP | April 17, 2001 |
| History | |
| Opened |
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The Newport Southbank Bridge is a long bridge that stretches 2,670 feet (about 814 meters) across the Ohio River. It connects Newport, Kentucky to downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Many people know it by its fun nickname, the Purple People Bridge.
Contents
Bridge History: From Trains to People
Building the First Bridge
The first bridge opened on April 1, 1872. It was called the Newport and Cincinnati Bridge. This was the very first railroad bridge in Cincinnati that crossed the Ohio River. Workers used strong stone from Adams County, Ohio to build the bridge's supports, called piers.
A New Bridge on Old Supports
The bridge you see today opened in 1897. It was built on the same original piers, which were made wider. This new bridge carried streetcars, people walking, and cars.
Changing Names and Uses
In 1904, the bridge got a new name: the L&N Railroad Bridge. It kept this name for many years. The bridge was used by trains until 1987. Later, in October 2001, it was closed to cars because it needed a lot of repairs.
Becoming a Historic Landmark
On April 17, 2001, the L&N Railroad Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important part of history!
The Purple Makeover
In late 2001, the city of Newport, Kentucky, and a group called Southbank Partners worked to fix up the bridge. They used $4 million in state money for the repairs. When it was time to paint the bridge, they tried out many colors. People in different groups looked at computer pictures of the bridge in various colors. Most of them chose purple as their favorite. Soon, local people started calling it the "Purple People Bridge."
A Bridge for Everyone
The Purple People Bridge makes it easy to visit fun places. You can walk from Newport to the "Newport on the Levee" area. You can also easily reach Downtown Cincinnati.
For a short time in 2006, people could even climb across the top of the bridge! This was like special bridge climbs in Australia and New Zealand. However, the Purple People Bridge Climb closed on May 23, 2007, because it didn't have enough money or visitors.
Today, the bridge is still a popular spot for people walking and riding bikes.
Images for kids
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The bridge as viewed from the Carew Tower observation deck
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The deck of the bridge
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A view of the bridge from the side.
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Another view of the bridge.
