Ceremony for Iron Bridge tonight
Never has the adage, "if you build it, they will come," rang more true.
But when The Iron Bridge across the Spokane River was first completed in 1911 by the Oregon & Washington Railroad and Navigation Company, I bet they never planned on seeing what it would be come nearly a century later.
The bridge orginally serviced mining areas in Silvery Valley, Idaho and the northern Bitterroot Mountains of Montana before closing in 1973 to make way for the 1974 Spokane World's Fair. Fast forward twenty years later when a growing collection of local community members, business owners and advocates began concepts and then worked with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) to re-open the historical railroad bridge
Now, it has a new life - it's open for pedestrians and bicyclists. You can join Spokane Mayor David Condon, Council Members Mike Fagan and Jon Snyder, representatives from Friends of the Centennial Trail, the Flying Irish Running Club, and the Logan and Chief Garry Park neighborhoods for a completion ceremony on the west end of the newly renovated Iron Bridge off of Superior St., tonight at 6 p.m. (Then go to this!)
“Restoring the Iron Bridge was a significant project for our community,” says Mayor David Condon. “This project provides a critical link for cyclists and pedestrians and adds to our outdoor recreational amenities.”
The bridge crosses the river between Superior and Perry streets just east of downtown, leading to the Centennial Trail. It was refurbished with a new concrete deck with asphalt overlays and new steel safety railings; it also received a cleaning and fresh paint.
"The opening of the restored Iron Bridge is an exciting new connection to the Spokane Centennial Trail,” says Kaye Turner, Executive Director, Friends of the Centennial Trail. “This new route will offer a safer alternative for users to access the Centennial Trail instead of using the Trent Bridge.”
The project was funded by the Recreation & Conservation Office, the Spokane Regional Transportation Council, federal sources, Iron Bridge Development, and the City of Spokane.
