Big Four ramp plans move ahead

In other business

• Closure of the Clark Memorial Bridge from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Oct. 9 was unanimously approved by the board. The bridge closing is for the Race for the Cure and there is a $1,000 fee associated with the closure.
• Another road closure will occur in the Crystal Springs Subdivision, associated with the annual Parade of Homes, which began Wednesday evening and will run through June 28. The road closure will not affect other residents in the neighborhood, according to Bob Lynn, developer of Crystal Springs.

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June 10, 2010

Big Four ramp plans move ahead

Area around bridge’s landing and road closures dominate meeting

By BRADEN LAMMERS Braden.Lammers@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Thu Jun 10, 2010, 01:06 AM EDT

JEFFERSONVILLE — A clearer picture of the plan for the ramp of the Big Four Bridge was unveiled at a brief meeting for Jeffersonville’s Board of Public Works and Safety on Wednesday morning.

The proposed pedestrian bridge connecting Jeffersonville’s and Louisville’s riverfronts will drop those crossing the Ohio River off at the corner of Market and Mulberry Streets into a park setting in Jeffersonville.

Bill Whitaker, of the Rose Hill Neighborhood Association, prompted the discussion as he asked permission from the city to add features to the neighborhood following the revamping of Market Street.

Along with banners Whitaker would like to hang on new light posts, he also asked permission to place park benches that have Rose Hill Neighborhood inscribed on the back.

“I don’t know what the city is going to do with the possibility of the landing of the Big Four [Bridge] there at Mulberry and Market, if it’s going to be a park setting for you guys?” Whitaker said.

Mayor Tom Galligan confirmed the city’s plan was to surround the landing in a park-like setting.

“There is going to be a landing at Market and Mulberry [Streets] with steps, so that would be an ideal place to have a park bench,” Galligan said.

Although plans are being filled in around the ramp of the Big Four Bridge, a major obstacle stands in the way in that Jeffersonville has yet to receive its portion of the funding to pay for the estimated $10 million to $12 million project.

Kentucky recently received its portion of the funding to resurface the former railroad crossing, which totaled $12 million.

Plans for construction are expected to be complete by October and a final timeline of 2012 is slated for completion, at the latest, Galligan said.

However if grant money for the project is not secured, Jeffersonville may be forced to delay the project.