Many people who live in the East End are fed up with the traffic, congestion and commuting hassles that are a direct result of the closing of the one-lane Harrods Creek Bridge. This bridge is an essential connector for area residents and many of the local businesses are suffering due to its closure.

Since Thanksgiving, the Harrods Creek Bridge has been closed due to damage and disrepair. An inspection revealed that a guardrail had been hit and had pulled away from the foundation. The city of Louisville decided to close the bridge and requested verification from the state highway inspector.

Ted Pullen, Metro Public Works director, told WAVE-TV News that the state “came to the conclusion that it was in an unsafe condition and it needed to be closed.”

That was more than six months ago.

Current status
The city of Louisville has $2.3 million available for construction of a new two-lane bridge.  In early May, the city awarded the bridge contract to MAC Construction, a New Albany based firm, which is now working to obtain all the construction permits needed in order to begin.

Once the construction plan is officially approved, MAC will have 210 days to complete the bridge. There are incentives worked into the contract for early completion, as well as penalties for work that is overdue.

The new bridge will be built in the same place as the existing bridge, and the city of Louisville says many elements will remain intact, such as the arches underneath the span. 

However, the $2.3 million is federal money and can be used ONLY to construct a two-lane bridge.

It’s not that simple
River Fields Inc. says the bridge should be one lane, and they will fight to keep it that way.  They have filed two lawsuits to date.

River Fields is a prominent local nonprofit organization, which describes itself as advocating to protect, preserve and enhance the natural and cultural resources on both sides of the Ohio River, as well as the region surrounding it, for the benefit of the public.

It is understandable that River Fields would like for the bridge to remain the same; however, the money available for use dictates another outcome.

Historic but not historical
Money is not the only hold-up with the progress of this situation.

Many people believe that this bridge is historic and should not be altered.

However, according to the National Register of Historic Places’ Web site, the bridge has never received an official historical designation.

Therefore, it seems that without a specific designation, any claims to the point that the structure cannot be altered are misleading.

The bridge is old and scenic, but even The Courier-Journal ran a letter to the editor from Edie Bingham last week that pointed out that the bridge originally served as a two-lane passage, and that it was only the onset of larger vehicles that eventually changed it into a one-lane bridge.

Conclusions
Councilman Kelly Downard’s office has been bombarded with phone calls, e-mails and letters asking the city to reopen the bridge.

“Most of the feedback we have heard pertains to just getting the bridge opened,” Downard said. “People don’t care whether it’s one-lane or two, they just want and need it open”.

The longer this connector stays closed, the more we put our motorists and cyclists at risk. 

Unless River Fields can raise or donate the necessary money to our cash-strapped Public Works Department to keep it one-lane, then there is no choice but for city leaders to use the federal money, strings attached, in order to open up this very important link.