Daniel Carter Beard Bridge

The Daniel Carter Beard Bridge is a steel tied-arch bridge with two yellow arches spanning the Ohio River between Cincinnati, Ohio and Newport, Kentucky. It carries eight traffic lanes for Interstate 471 across the river with its distinctive arches reaching over 230 feet (70 meters) in height.

The bridge opened in 1976 in two phases, with the southbound direction beginning traffic in January and the northbound direction following in December. It was named after the founder of the Boy Scouts of America to honor his legacy.

Local residents call this bridge the Big Mac Bridge because its yellow arches look like the McDonald's logo. The nickname has become so common that many people use it instead of the official name.

The bridge is open 24 hours for vehicle traffic and connects directly between the two riverbanks via Interstate 471. Visitors should expect congestion during rush hours in the morning and evening.

The bridge underwent a major reconstruction in 2000 that doubled its capacity by expanding from three lanes to four lanes in each direction. This upgrade made it one of the most heavily used crossings of the Ohio River in the region.

Location: Kentucky

Location: Ohio

Architects: URS Corporation

Official opening: December 1976

Made from material: steel

GPS coordinates: 39.10060,-84.49450

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:42