K & I Bridge, in which we praise the virtues of condemnation.

Reporter Sheldon Shafer's right on top of it at the Courier-Journal, as David Karem says aloud what so many of us remember hearing discussed during pre-recessionary times, when the reopening of the K & I first became a public topic.

Condemnation suit could be pursued in effort to force opening K&I Bridge to walkers, bicyclists

 ... Louisville Metro Councilman Tom Owen, D-8th District and chairman of the transportation committee, said the K&I was open for public use — including to vehicles — from 1913 to 1979. It was designated U.S. 31 during those years.

That protracted public use and right-of-way could be grounds for pursuing a condemnation proceeding to get a court ruling to reopen the bridge’s former automobile decks to walkers and bicyclists, probably through federal court, officials said.

Karem said metro officials are researching the possibility of a condemnation action toward that end.

Previously at NAC:

A report on the history of the K & I Bridge.

Norfolk Southern the problem, hundreds of crowbars the answer.