If you've noticed the progress on the Louisville side of the Big Four Bridge, don't get too excited, yet.
The railroad bridge turned pedestrian walkway still needs lots of work and lots of money.
Best case scenario, we're still about two years away from the Big Four Bridge being open for use. For that to happen, Kentucky and Indiana still need a combined $25 million.
Still, you have probably noticed the significant progress on the Louisville side of the bridge with the ramp being nearly ready, but this truly is a tale of two cities.
Robbie Williams walks his dogs along the Jeffersonville waterfront three times a day, so he notices every bit of work on the other side of the river.
“I hope they catch up," Robbie commented about his side of the bridge. He’s not sure why Indiana is behind but he points out, “I've seen them make a lot of progress over there."
The progress in Louisville comes from private donors paying for their ramp up to the pedestrian walkway. Jeffersonville, however, needs $15 million worth of federal cash to build their ramp. So far, not a penny has been secured to begin work.
"I think this is another one of those projects we could afford not to do," longtime Jeffersonville resident John Frye quips. He’s among a group of Hoosiers hoping the dollars never come. Frye doesn't want the noise and traffic.
"I'm just tired of everybody sitting in their magic castles at city halls telling us what we have to do in our neighborhood here," John says.
Still for many, the Big Four Bridge would mean playtime. Carol Wright frequents Louisville’s Waterfront Park with her grandkids. Having the nation's longest pedestrian and cycling bridge in Kentuckiana would be quite an attraction.
"As soon as it opens- we'll be down here, absolutely,” Carol tells us. “It's just the best thing for Louisville and for families and for grandparents and for everybody."
The proposed Jeffersonville ramp would end inside the flood wall near Mulberry street. It will cost about $15 million and would require nearly two years of work.
Both states need about $10 million more to finish the walkway along the bridge. Kentucky and Indiana applied for federal stimulus money for the project and will find out in January if they get the cash.
