NEWPORT — The substructure of the 150-year-old L&N Bridge is like new, according to a bridge expert, and work to refurbish the retired Ohio River span and convert it to a pedestrian-only bridge can get under way almost immediately.

        Abba Lichtenstein, a New Jersey consulting engineer on bridges and canals, told Newport city commissioners that a structural study of the bridge's steel undercarriage by engineers from Burgess & Niple of Columbus showed that the bridge was perfectly capable of carrying pedestrian traffic.

The L&N Bridge in the past — in black and white, 1957 — contrasts with its planned purple future — when planners envision it to be a pedestrian link between Newport and Cincinnati. (Enquirer file photo) | ZOOM |

        “The steel in the substructure is excellent,” he said. “It's as good as any you could buy today for a bridge of this type. This is a great bridge, and I hope the city goes ahead with its plans.”

        The L&N Bridge was closed because it had a low load limit and handled very little traffic after the four-lane Taylor-Southgate Bridge replaced the old Central Bridge into Newport from Cincinnati. The Burgess & Niple study was commissioned to be certain the bridge could safely handle crowds of pedestrians if it were converted.

        Wally Pagan, President of Southbank Partners, the nonprofit agency that is working with the city on the bridge project, said the next step is for the city to officially take ownership of the bridge from the state.

        “When the city has ownership of the bridge, we will form a limited liability corporation with the city and Southbank to operate and maintain the bridge,” Mr. Pagan said.

        The bridge will link the parks and entertainment district on the Newport side of the river with the new baseball park and other venues on the Cincinnati side.

        Mr. Pagan said the task of cleaning the steel superstructure and applying a new coat of paint could start as soon as March if the ownership transfer is completed. Conomos Industrial Painting and Construction Specialists of Bridgeville, Pa., submitted the low bid of $2.8 million to paint the bridge.

        Mr. Lichtenstein, who was responsible for saving the Walnut Street Bridge in Chattanooga, Tenn., from demolition and converting it to a pedestrian-only bridge, said the superstructure of the L&N Bridge — the steel above the piers and roadway — is not in the same condition as the substructure.

        “There are some areas that will require repair,” he said. “There are just a few spots. The cost is estimated at about $100,000.”

        City officials hope the L&N Bridge can be used much like the restored Walnut Street Bridge in Chattanooga, Tenn., for a variety of events including festivals, wine tastings, fund-raisers, and private parties such as weddings.

        Mr. Pagan said when the repairs are complete, the bridge will be pressure-washed and then receive a fresh overcoat of paint. The color has not been officially announced, but early indications were that the city and Southbank were leaning toward a bright purple.

        “We would paint the entire bridge, both sides,” Mr. Pagan said, referring to the former railroad bridge that runs parallel to the vehicle bridge that is to be converted to pedestrian. “The railroad side of the bridge could be used in the future as a light rail link from Cincinnati to Newport.”

        The city received $4 million from the state and a $150,000 donation from Procter & Gamble to refurbish the bridge, and Mr. Pagan said most of that money would be spent in the repair and repainting.

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