The Purple People Bridge will partially reopen to foot traffic beginning 9 a.m. Thursday.The pedestrian bridge, which connects Cincinnati to Newport, has been closed since May 11 after a stone fell from the bridge's pier into the Ohio River below. Now, engineers have determined that a portion of the bridge will be permitted to reopen.The Kentucky side of the river — south of Pier 1 — has been deemed safe to reopen to the public, officials with the Newport Southbank Bridge Company announced Wednesday.However, barriers will be installed on the northern section of the bridge, at the state line, to prevent pedestrians from crossing the bridge into Cincinnati. Access will only be allowed from the Kentucky side of the river"Until those repairs are made, access will be limited to the Kentucky side of the bridge,” said Jack Moreland, who is retiring Thursday as the president of both The Newport Southbank Bridge Company. “Pedestrians will be able to walk on the bridge up until the state line but will not be permitted to walk the length of the bridge between Ohio and Kentucky until repairs are made on the Ohio side of the bridge.”Plans for reopening the bridge entirely are being developed to determine the scope and cost of the repairs as well as how the repairs will be funded. A decision on when major public events, such as the Party on the Purple, will be announced at a later date.The Purple People Bridge is also known as the Newport Southbank Bridge.
The Purple People Bridge will partially reopen to foot traffic beginning 9 a.m. Thursday.
The pedestrian bridge, which connects Cincinnati to Newport, has been closed since May 11 after a stone fell from the bridge's pier into the Ohio River below.
Now, engineers have determined that a portion of the bridge will be permitted to reopen.
The Kentucky side of the river — south of Pier 1 — has been deemed safe to reopen to the public, officials with the Newport Southbank Bridge Company announced Wednesday.
However, barriers will be installed on the northern section of the bridge, at the state line, to prevent pedestrians from crossing the bridge into Cincinnati.
Access will only be allowed from the Kentucky side of the river
"Until those repairs are made, access will be limited to the Kentucky side of the bridge,” said Jack Moreland, who is retiring Thursday as the president of both The Newport Southbank Bridge Company. “Pedestrians will be able to walk on the bridge up until the state line but will not be permitted to walk the length of the bridge between Ohio and Kentucky until repairs are made on the Ohio side of the bridge.”
Plans for reopening the bridge entirely are being developed to determine the scope and cost of the repairs as well as how the repairs will be funded.
A decision on when major public events, such as the Party on the Purple, will be announced at a later date.
The Purple People Bridge is also known as the Newport Southbank Bridge.
Source link
