During our trip south we spent time on a number of historic riveted truss bridges and, thanks to my wife Nan Jackson’s planning, we were able to focus on a particular truss design, the Whipple truss, in my search for forge welds and accompanying punch marks. Nathan Holth (www.historicbridges.org) also lent his expertise in locating the Whipples. While the search for forge welds and punch marks on Whipples will be documented later, it is a bridge across the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky, where we had a leisurely morning walk, that may be of interest to those in the preservation community. The Big Four Bridge is a massive six-span early twentieth century railroad bridge rehabilitated between 2007 and 2013 as a bicycle and pedestrian bridge, part of Louisville’s waterfront park. For those traveling in the area, this historic riveted truss bridge is worth the time to walk the length of the bridge or sit on the numerous benches along the pathway and enjoy the spectacular views. https://ourwaterfront.org/
Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge Approach
Big Four Bridge spans the Ohio River with daily barge traffic
Louisville, Kentucky the Big Four Bridge
Louisville, Kentucky from the The Four Bridge: Abraham Lincoln Bridge, J.F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge, G. R. Clark Memorial Bridge
Nan Jackson on the Big Four Bridge, Louisville, Kentucky
