Bridging the Gap

By Amy Charles, MBA ’23

President of Central Bridge Company Josh Whitaker ’14 had the opportunity to leave his mark on the university that means so much to him after being awarded the contract for the construction of the new bridge.

The bittersweet decision to replace the bridge was fueled by a commitment to safety and a desire to update the campus infrastructure. Director of Facilities Charles Atkinson, MBA ’23, describes the old concrete bridge as being in a state of disrepair and becoming unsafe. Age and wear had taken their toll, prompting university officials to conduct rigorous safety assessments.

The results indicated that the bridge’s structural integrity had significantly deteriorated, raising concerns about its ability to support the growing foot traffic on campus.

“The support structures holding the bridge were cracked and crumbling, with vegetation growing from it,” said Atkinson. “The supports for the new bridge are also concrete, but we brought in a third party to test the integrity of the new concrete after it was poured, and it is structurally sound.”

Whitaker had mixed emotions about destroying a structure representing a tangible connection to his time on “the hill” and the university’s history. As a mathematics major, most of Whitaker’s classes were in the Armington Building, meaning he spent countless hours on the bridge with friends and basketball teammates. For many alumni, the bridge stood as a symbol of tradition, spanning not only the physical gap between buildings but also bridging the gap between the university’s past and present.

“To be able to play a part in building something better for campus feels pretty special, but it’s sad, too, because so many people have fond memories on the bridge,” said Whitaker. “When I learned about the new bridge project, I was determined to get the contract. I knew it was something I had to be part of.”

Whitaker and his wife of seven years, Jerrica ’14, met at the beginning of their freshman year.

“He pretended not to have taken any notes in English class and asked if we could exchange phone numbers so I could text him photos of my notes,” said Jerrica. “That was the beginning of our love story, and the bridge soon became our spot on campus to hang out between classes.”

After graduation, Whitaker earned his engineering degree and spent three years working at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet before taking a position at Central Bridge Company. He stepped into the role of president when his predecessor retired last year.

Whitaker brought his family back to campus in September for his induction into UPIKE’s Athletics Hall of Fame. He was part of the team that secured the overtime win in Kansas City to clinch the 2011 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship title.

“Apart from meeting my wife for the first time, coming back from Kansas City after winning the championship is my favorite memory of my time at UPIKE,” said Whitaker. “The whole town welcomed us back. They gave us a police escort, and we were signing shirts and basketballs, and there was a parade in Pikeville a little later. It was quite a homecoming!”

Whitaker is proud that the innovatively designed bridge will become a part of the campus’s identity. Reflecting on the bridge’s replacement, he expressed a mixture of pride and nostalgia in saying goodbye to the old bridge but prioritizing the safety of new students.

The new bridge is eco-friendlier and made from aluminum, which is more resistant to corrosion and other environmental degradation. New LED lights to illuminate the bridge are a better, lower-maintenance alternative to traditional incandescent lights and are more energy efficient as well.

I’ve put my blood, sweat and tears into UPIKE through basketball and getting an education, launching me toward the success I have now,” said Whitaker. “It has all come full circle for me. I get to do what I love and improve the university that gave us so much. There are a lot of emotions involved with this for me.