Downtown’s
Rainbow
Viaduct
One of Birmingham’s oldest bridges, the Rainbow Viaduct has connected the north and south sides of downtown for more than 130 years. As we look toward its future, REV Birmingham is working with the City of Birmingham to evaluate options for this historic structure and the neighboring 22nd Street Bridge.
Want to help shape what comes next? Check back here for updates and opportunities to share your input.
Structural Assessment and Community Engagement
The Rainbow Viaduct closed to vehicular traffic in January 2022 due to structural concerns and the need to prevent further damage. The 1891 bridge’s last major structural update took place in 1918, long before modern traffic demands, including the weight and volume of heavy commercial vehicles, became a consideration. The 22nd Street Bridge, built in 1915 over Morris Avenue, also plays an important role in connecting downtown and supporting daily travel.
To better understand the bridges’ future, REV Birmingham is working with the City of Birmingham to coordinate a request for qualifications (RFQ) for a professional services team to assess the structural condition of both bridges. Based on the findings, the team will develop potential scenarios and maintenance plans to help inform decisions about their long-term future.
REV will also coordinate a public engagement process, bringing professional expertise and community input together to help shape the conversation about these historic structures and their role in downtown’s future.
There is no cost-free path forward. Every potential outcome will come with its own opportunities, challenges and financial considerations. The assessment and planning process will help establish a clearer understanding of the available options and the resources required to pursue them.
Want to help shape what comes next? Check back here for updates and opportunities to share your input. You can also follow Downtown BHM on Facebook and Instagram to stay informed as the process moves forward.
Temporary Placemaking
In collaboration with the Birmingham Department of Transportation and volunteers from the City Center Neighborhood Association and Alabama Urbanists Coalition, REV Birmingham’s team installed short-term measures in 2023 to beautify the bridge and make it a more pleasant place for pedestrians and cyclists. Additions included:
- Extra services from CAP to care for plants and address litter and graffiti
- Temporary multi-use path
- Informational signage
- Traffic bollards
- Planters
We encourage you to spend some time on the historic Rainbow Viaduct! Tag @downtownbhm on Instagram and Facebook in photos captured on the bridge — it’s a top-tier spot for catching beautiful views of downtown!
Bridge History
Rainbow Viaduct
The bridge was built in 1891 to link the north and south ends of 21st Street (renamed Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard in 1999 to honor Mayor Arrington at his retirement). Twenty years later, the Birmingham City Commission upgraded the viaduct to increase traffic. Those efforts were delayed by World War I, but construction began on the bridge in 1918 and cost $200,000.
The bridge was formally dedicated as the Rainbow Viaduct on May 19, 1919, to the decorated veterans of the 167th Infantry Regiment who had been hosted in Birmingham and fought as part of the “Rainbow Division” during World War I. Colonel W. P. Screws formally accepted the dedication. At the apex of the bridge, a pair of memorial plaques, formerly topped with eagles, honor those veterans.
22nd Street Bridge
Built in 1915 over Morris Avenue, the 22nd Street Bridge is another historic downtown crossing and an important part of Birmingham’s transportation network. It handles approximately 14,000 vehicles daily and is included alongside the Rainbow Viaduct in the City of Birmingham’s structural assessment and community engagement process.
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