rainbow Bridge — The Rainbow Bridge. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

This beautiful, historic bridge on Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard is getting a makeover, thanks to REV Birmingham. We got a closer look at what’s in store for the bridge—here’s what we learned.

The 100-year-old Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd bridge

In 2022, the Richard Arlington Jr. Blvd Bridge that connects First Avenue South to First Avenue North in Birmingham closed in order to restrict access to all vehicle access.

The bridge itself is over 100 years old and has begun to slowly deteriorate—for the safety of the community and for the preservation of this piece of Birmingham history, Birmingham’s Department of Transportation thought it best to close the bridge down until further notice.

REV Birmingham is joining forces with the City of Birmingham to create a temporary design until they figure out if it can ever allows cars again.

What else could this historic bridge be?

Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd bridge is a piece of Birmingham history. ( Sadie Sue Long / Bham Now)

REV Birmingham has several plans to lighten up the bridge’s appearance and allow it be a communal public space until the bridge can be properly inspected and studied. These plans include:

Bike lane for scooters bikes skaters and pedestrians
New plants and greenery
Heavy duty tables + chairs for public use
Signage to welcome the public and let them know the value of the historic bridge

“The Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard Bridge is a historic structure and an important connector between the north and south sides of Birmingham. Conducting an engineering and feasibility study while beautifying the bridge will improve the quality of life for residents and the atmosphere of the surrounding businesses. This temporary project will create a more welcoming and aesthetically pleasing environment for pedestrians to enjoy in the meantime.”
David Fleming, CEO and President of REV Birmingham.