PUBLIC COMMENTS ON SIX BRIDGE TYPE ALTERNATIVES FOR DOWNTOWN BRIDGE
March 2006 – Designers for the Ohio River Bridges Project met with the public at two open houses to discuss the status of the Downtown Bridge and gather feedback concerning six alternative designs for the bridge that will connect downtown Louisville with downtown Jeffersonville, Ind. The meetings took place in Jeffersonville on March 21 and in downtown Louisville on March 23. Two identical presentations were made at each location.
The open houses allowed the public to comment on designs and ask questions of project representatives involved with the project. The Downtown Bridge project design team will accept comments on the six bridge alternatives, which have been placed on the Web site (link), through the end of March 2006.
J.B. Williams, project manager for the Downtown Bridge design section, gave a brief review of the public involvement process and provided an overview of the six bridge alternatives under consideration. The bridge alternatives under consideration are:
A1 – Three Span Tied Arch
A2 -- Three Span Thru Arch
A3 – Hybrid Box Girder
A4 – Single Tower Cable Stayed
A5 – Four Tower Cable Stayed
A6 – Three Tower Cable Stayed
Williams reviewed the comments and preferences gathered to date through Steps 1 and 2 of the Bridge Type Selection Process. A variety of comments have been received in the process. Some people have indicated a preference for low towers and a sense of transparency, while others have indicated that the bridge should be iconic with more dominant features.
Ted Grossardt, program manager from the University of Kentucky Transportation Research Center, conducted polling sessions, during which attendees electronically submitted their preferences based on a series of renderings and criteria. A number of views of the six bridge alternatives were evaluated, including overall, aerial, shoreline and driver’s views.
A brief question-and-answer period followed the polling sessions, giving attendees another opportunity to voice concerns, offer comments and ask questions. Feedback received at the open houses and through the Web site will be considered as the bridge design team refines and narrows the number of bridge alternatives.
Click here to view Downtown Bridge design page.