Daniel Carter Beard Bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 39°06′02″N84°29′40″W / 39.1006°N 84.4945°W |
| Carries | 8 lanes of  I-471 |
| Crosses | Ohio River |
| Locale | Newport, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Other name(s) | Big Mac Bridge |
| Maintained by | Kentucky Transportation Cabinet [1] |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Twin bowstring arch bridges |
| Total length | 639.93 meters (2,099.5 feet) |
| Width | 15.27 meters (50.1 feet) |
| Longest span | 230.92 meters (757.6 feet) |
| Clearance above | 5.49 meters (18 feet) |
| History | |
| Construction cost | $14 million [2] |
| Opened | January 1976 (southbound) December 1976 (northbound) |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 97,900 |
| Location | |
 | |
The Daniel Carter Beard Bridge (also known colloquially as the Big Mac Bridge), is a yellow twin span steel bowstring arch bridge crossing the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio. It carries Interstate 471 between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Newport, Kentucky. The nickname comes from the yellow arches being similar to the "Golden Arches" logo of McDonald's restaurant. [3] The nickname was coined by local residents after the bridge's golden arches were constructed. In the 1980s, McDonald's considered opening a floating restaurant at the base after the nickname caught on, but never went to construction. [4] This bridge has a main span of 750 feet (230 m) and has a total span of 2,100 feet (640 m). It is named in honor of Daniel Carter Beard, the founder of the Sons of Daniel Boone and one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America. [5]
Contents
The bridge was originally configured with three lanes and an emergency shoulder on each span. In December 2000, with the completion of a reconstruction project on the 3rd Street Viaduct approach, the bridge was reconfigured to four lanes on each span. The bridge was originally designed by Hazelet + Erdal, now URS Corporation.
In the early morning hours of November 1, 2024, a fire beneath the bridge in Sawyer Point Park spread to the park's playground, engulfing the bridge in flames and causing structural damage. [6] [7] [8] The southbound lanes were closed due to the need for extensive repairs. [9] On December 10, 2024, four people were arrested for causing the fire. The repairs included the replacement of seven steel girders. The bridge was expected to fully reopen in March 2025. [10] The bridge reopened ahead of schedule on February 9, 2025. [11]
