By Rebecca Goodman
Enquirer staff writer

Beginning Monday, crews will begin to spiff up the Ohio entrance to the pedestrian L&N Bridge - commonly called the Purple People Bridge - with lights, bamboo planters and a map of riverfront attractions.

"It's like a net of lights that will span over the approach to the bridge," said Michael Moore, principal architect for the city's Transportation and Engineering Department. "If you were seeing the images of European streets at Christmastime, when they string lights across, back and forth, it'll be kind of like that."

The plan, by KZF Designs Inc. of Cincinnati, includes a kiosk with a map directing visitors to Great American Ball Park, Paul Brown Stadium and other riverfront attractions.

"We think it's going to be a very nice addition," Moore said. "It's another piece to the puzzle to making the Cincinnati side work as a destination. We hope this will draw people to Friendship Park and ball games and so on."

Mayor Charlie Luken agreed, saying "the L&N Bridge project is one more addition to the rebirth of the riverfront. (It) can support the energy of the city's core and build a sense of enthusiasm among the region's citizens."

The city of Cincinnati is sponsoring the project, using $238,749 from the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Last summer, state Sen. Mark Mallory complained that the Cincinnati end of the bridge was ugly and that he was interested in trying to attract money for beautification.

The bridge opened last summer. It connects downtown Cincinnati to Newport near the Newport on the Levee entertainment and shopping complex.

Some patrons enjoy a stroll across the bridge after dinner at one of the Levee restaurants. But they often turn around and stroll right back instead of continuing to check out a Cincinnati attraction.

Mallory said he called a meeting of the city, Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments to discuss the issue.

"The city had already put some thought into what they would do with that end of the bridge if they had the money," Mallory said. "They came to that meeting with plans and drawings.

"I called around and found a pot of money through the highway beautification fund. Since that used to be an automobile bridge, it still qualifies. They applied for it and got it and now they're moving forward.

Prus Construction Co. has been hired to make the improvements, to be completed by the end of November. During construction, a 12-foot-wide path will be maintained for pedestrian and bicycle access, although the stairway at the overlook may be occasionally closed.

Lights and signs will be hung over Butler Street and the construction zone will include the south sidewalk on Pete Rose Way to 150 feet south. Closures on Butler Street may be necessary, but access between Sawyer Point and the Serpentine Wall will be maintained during special events.

Pete Rose Way may be closed and detours posted. It will be open during morning and afternoon rush hours Monday through Friday and two hours before and after events at the ball park, the football stadium and U.S. Bank Arena.

"These are the kinds of little things that help the image," Mallory said. "We are constantly under this cloud that Kentucky does everything better than we do on the Cincinnati side of the river. This is just proof that when we work together we can get things done."

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E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com