East End Bridge Gets More Refined: Color, Lighting and Theme Are Set
April 2008 - Recommendations on the shape, color and other aesthetic features
elements of the East End Bridge for the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges
Project are now set for final consideration. The proposed features are the result
of feedback from the public and several community groups. The public involvement
process was instrumental in determining the bridge's overall theme, color, texture
and lighting.
See Downtown Bridge aesthetic design.
"We really focused on the bucolic setting of the East End Bridge site,"
says Steve Slade, Section Design Manager for the East End Bridge. "We feel
our design elements complement the landscape, not compete with it."
The recommended lighting reflects the desire of the community for a balanced, well-integrated
lighting design that does not impact the historic context.
The recommendation for the overall theme of the bridge is that the design be "curvilinear,"
characterized by curved lines reflected in the tower shape, piers, bicycle/pedestrian
pathway railings and roadway lighting standards.
Aesthetic lighting for the East End Bridge is designed to blend with its natural
setting. Classic white is the proposed lighting color for the bridge because it
provides the best overall illumination and satisfies the desire of the community
for a balanced, well-integrated design.
The Design Team and community groups agreed that "warm grey" is the best
color choice for the various metal bridge elements, including the structural steel,
the cable sheaths, railings, light standards and fixtures and sign supports. Warm
grey is the color that best fits with the environment, especially the naturally
occurring stone in the vicinity of the bridge site.
The recommendation from community groups and the design team is that the concrete
portions of the East End Bridge, including the towers and piers, be constructed
using plain, uncoated architectural concrete. The color and appearance of the plain
uncoated concrete is reminiscent of the limestone cliffs at the East End Bridge
site. Not only does the uncoated concrete blend well with the site, but it provides
a natural alternative to coated materials which require more maintenance.
The aesthetic design choices were guided by recommendations from members of the
Kentucky and Indiana Historic Preservation Advisory Teams and the Area Advisory
Teams. Input was gathered from both groups at a series of workshops held during
the past several months. The groups cast votes and commented on the various aesthetic
options. Those recommendations were presented to the public during an open house
in December and will now be presented to the Bi-State Historic Consultation Team
for final approval.