This truss approach span with a ramp down from the original bridge, was still useful to reach Middle Island, the largest of the 22 islands in the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The island is one of only two in the refuge connected to the mainland with bridges, providing access to 3.5 miles of hiking and biking trails, a 1.6-mile auto trail with interpretive signs posted at pull-off areas, abundant fishing access and a wildlife viewing blind overlooking a wetland. So it was kept in 1971, and a project is now underway to rehabilitate this original approach truss span. The ramp down from it will be replaced with a new ramp with a more gradual curve, so it can be negotiated by longer vehicles such as school buses.
The NBI dimensions do not appear to be accurate. Judging from the scale on Google Satellite View, it is about 100 feet long.
Visited this bridge, and found construction to be underway to rehabilitate it. I posted construction photos. Nice to see this old truss, with its significant history of being the approach span to the lost eyebar suspension Hi Carpenter Bridge, getting a proper full rehab. I spoke to a construction foreman, who knew all about this bridge's history, and its connection to the Silver Bridge collapse disaster. He said it would be finished by summer 2020, and it would be painted grey.
An interesting thing to note. This is all that is left of the Hi Carperter Suspension Bridge. It was considered the sister bridge to the ill fated Silver Bridge because they were both built in 1928, and they both used eyebars as opposed to wire suspension cables. It should be repainted silver to see how it would have looked back then.
The new postcard view (#24) posted by Geoff Hubbs shows an interesting detail. The eyebar chains at the south end, extend past the truss approach span, to their anchorage on the higher south bank. This colorized photo shows the eyebar chains crossing the side channel right next to the superstructure of the truss approach span. It also shows the old ramp down to the island, which was replaced in 2019.