For decades, crossing U.S. 41 at Washington Avenue on foot was a treacherous act, with pedestrians like Benjamin Bosse High School students aided only by sign-carrying guards in florescent vests as they trekked over five lanes of heavy, fast-moving traffic. Now, they can cross with confidence, ease — and safety.
The state long resisted pleas from Evansville mayors and Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation board members, among others, to construct a pedestrian bridge. But a turning point came in 2019, when then-Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and then-Deputy Mayor Steve Schaefer brought former Gov. Eric Holcomb to the intersection. Finally, state transportation officials “got behind the project and pushed it,” says Mike Duckworth, an EVSC board member and himself a 1974 Bosse graduate.
Built throughout 2024, the concrete-and-steel bridge features ADA-accessible ramps on both sides and is wide enough to accommodate several lanes of foot traffic.
Christmas came early for students, as the bridge — although lacking finishing touches — opened in December.
“The pedestrian bridge is more than just steel and concrete — it’s the result of decades of advocacy from parents, educators, and community leaders who have refused to accept unsafe conditions for our students,” Bosse Principal Aaron Huff says. “It’s peace of mind for parents, security for students, and a reminder of what can be accomplished when a community comes together for its young people.”
Bosse students, Huff adds, “have been thrilled. While it takes a few more steps to cross 41, we’ll gladly take those steps to ensure our safety.”
