HERMANN – Picture-perfect weather and a larger-than-expected crowd marked the celebration Friday morning of the re-opening of the Highway 19 (Market Street) bridge over Frene Creek.

Mayor Bruce Cox, who led the crowd in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, called the span a “critical part of our infrastructure.” Indeed, having the bridge back in service means less stress from heavy traffic on neighborhood streets such as Washington and Gutenberg that were the main detours around the work site.

A key feature of the new bridge is the new pedestrian walkway, located on the east side of the span. The mayor characterized the pedestrian walkway as “a statement that our community is committed to having a more inclusive and safe” pathway for everyone.

The new structure replaced a bridge built in 1930. That crossing replaced a stone bridge constructed in 1867.

Among the dignitaries attending the celebration was Missouri Department of Transportation Regional Engineer Preston Kramer. Before the start of the event, he mentioned to the Gasconade County Republican that the bridge project had been on the state’s To-Do list for several years; however, the work was waiting for available funding — which was generated through the recent increase in the state’s fuel tax.

He spoke about the way this new bridge was built — the first in the state to use the particular type of girders that hold the bridge deck.

“You won’t have to touch this bridge, except for routine maintenance, for decades to come,” he said.

The mayor extended the city’s appreciation to all the groups and organizations involved in pushing to get the Depression-era bridge replaced, groups such as MoDOT, Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), the Gasconade County members of MRPC’s Transportation Advisory Committee and others. The Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) is comprised of three representatives from each of the eight counties in the Meramec Region and each year makes a recommendation to the MRPC Board of Directors about the transportation projects in the region that should be developed. The planning agency board then sends its recommended list of projects to MoDOT to consider when drafting its next 5-year State Transportation Improvement Plan.

MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge attended the celebration.

Also on hand was State Rep. Bruce Sassmann, R-Bland, who called the re-opening of the bridge the “beginning of a new chapter in the community.”

“I am proud of everyone who made this new bridge possible,” the state legislator said, adding that the bridge “is about connection.” He pointed to the role the small bridge can play in moving product out of a major industrial site being developed in Montgomery County. Items produced at the megasite are expected to be distributed to the South and Southwest by way of Interstate 44, which will be accessed by Highway 19.

Sassmann said the bridge “connects us (Gasconade and Montgomery counties) in a shared future,” he said.

The celebration was capped by a parade across the bridge led by Police Chief Marlon Walker and several autos of 1930s vintage. The parade also included several members of the River City Cruisers Car Club.