cleve callison’s blog

The Cincinnati Enquirer has a story suggesting a generally lackluster reaction locally to designs for the Brent Spence bridge replacement across the Ohio River to Northern Kentucky.

Here’s my take:

Roebling, from Wikimedia Commons

1) It has to have a WOW factor. This will be the defining image of Cincinnati for the 21st century and beyond. Forget the Big Mac; the new structure has to be a contemporary complement to the deservedly cherished Roebling suspension bridge, John Roebling’s model for the Brooklyn Bridge. It can’t be ordinary.

2) A double-decker is OK — but why not a triple-decker? Use the middle deck for flexibility (in-bound or out-bound as traffic warrants). As you can probably tell, I’m not an engineer, so there may be structural issues I don’t know about.

3) While we’re at it, why should traffic in-bound to Cincinnati get the lower deck? That’s true of Brent Spence, but it needn’t be true of the new one. Along with the cut in the hill coming in from Kentucky, it’ll be the best place to showcase the skyline for visitors.

4) I’ll nominate the relatively recent bridges in Savannah and Charleston as interesting contemporary designs. For that matter, Columbus IN has a nice (small) one.

5) No tiaras, please.*

*Sorry, this is an inside reference for Cincinnatians. The soon-to-be-tallest building in town will have a tiara.

Inspired by Princess Di.

I can’t wait.