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Hotel to span Purple People Bridge

Efforts to turn the Purple People Bridge into a unique tourist attraction are moving forward. A $650,000 Kentucky Transportation Cabinet grant is paying for an engineering study to determine if the bridge can support a hotel, restaurant and retail development.

Kentucky representative Dennis Keene calls the move an incredible opportunity for the region.

"The most important (thing) about this whole extraordinary concept of a hotel and restaurant and shops actually being built on a bridge, which will gain international attention for our region. The 1,000 jobs are just as important. While our economy is still on the rebound times are still tough and those jobs will be critical to the community's full recovery," he says.

The group that owns the bridge says the hotel could have 40 to 90 rooms. They say there are only three other structures in the world like what they're proposing.

If everything moves forward, the group estimates construction could begin in 2014.

Senior Editor and reporter at WVXU with more than 20 years experience in public radio; formerly news and public affairs producer with WMUB. Would really like to meet your dog.