The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge is formerly known as the Shelby Street Bridge or Shelby Avenue Bridge and Sparkman Street Bridge. It is located just one block south of Broadway and is connected to Sparkman Street and Shelby Avenue. The bridge crosses the Cumberland River and was originally opened in the 1900's.
This bridge has been used to carry traffic for hundreds of years but in 2003, it opened as a pedestrian-only-bridge. It is worth visiting because it is one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world. Moreover, the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge became historic because it is the first bridge in North America that was constructed with concrete arched trusses. It is maintained by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County.
The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge starts almost in front of the Schermerhorn Symphony. It offers spectacular views of downtown and is not very crowded. This bridge makes it easier for visitors to reach the stadium from downtown hotels. You can park your car on the east side of the bridge where it is easier to find parking space. You can take either the elevator up the bridge or make the climb to the top. There are elevators at both ends of the bridge. The East elevator will give the visitors’ access to the Cumberland whereas the West elevator gives access to the Riverfront Park. When you ride your bike over the bridge, you can take a stop at the apex and enjoy the stunning Nashville skyline. You will also love strolling the bridge at night. It offers a great vantage point of lights, water and paddleboats. It would be a steep climb but don’t worry, there are benches on which you can rest and enjoy the views of Broadway. If you are lucky, you can even see the General Jackson Showboat passing under the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge.
Photo The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge by Craig G is licensed under CC BY 2.0
