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A New Age Of Discovery
Large Crowd, Numerous Dignitaries Turn Out To Celebrate New Bridge
October 12, 2008 | By Nathan Johnson, Yankton Press & Dakotan

Although the sky was overcast during Saturday morning’s Discovery Bridge dedication ceremony, spirits were high as South Dakotans and Nebraskans celebrated their joint accomplishment.

Walking across the new $23.9 million bridge from Yankton toward the stage set up on its southern edge, one small boy encapsulated the youthful exuberance the new structure has inspired in children and adults alike: “This is awesome!” he told his grandparents as he ran and looked over the railing at the river below. “This is so awesome!”

After months of planning, the dedication started off at approximately 10 a.m. with a welcome from Cedar County (Neb.) Commissioner Frederick Pinkelman.

“I’m honored to join all of you in celebrating this grand achievement of so many people’s efforts and cooperative efforts of the great states of South Dakota and Nebraska,” he told the crowd of hundreds gathered to witness the historic day. “It is my hope that completion of this project is one more step in the continuing growth of business relations and economic growth for the whole region.”

“It’s important to note,” added Yankton Mayor Dan Specht, “that this great river does not divide us but brings us together to achieve great aspirations.”

The Discovery Bridge has replaced the Meridian Bridge, which served as a link between Nebraska and South Dakota for 84 years. The elder bridge, which was funded in the 1920s by a private bridge building company put together by Yankton community leaders, closed to vehicle traffic around 3 p.m. Saturday. Barricades were set up at both ends of the historic structure as area residents await word from the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) as to when and how the Meridian Bridge will be converted into a pedestrian/bicycling path. SDDOT Sec. Darin Bergquist said his staff will hold meetings with local officials later this month to discuss that process.

Work on the four-lane, 1,590-foot Discovery Bridge commenced in the summer of 2007 after a bid was awarded to Jensen Construction of Des Moines, Iowa. Crews are still working on portions of the project, such as completion of the four-lane highway leading up to the bridge, but enough work was done by Saturday to open it to traffic permanently. When the bridge project was bid out to Jensen Construction, work wasn’t expected to wrap up until the end of 2009. Officials have said the undertaking will come in at or below the contract amount.

“Under budget and ahead of schedule — five words I’ve never heard in Washington, D.C.,” Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) joked. “If you could please send some of that east, we could use it.

“Eighty-four years ago was a great day ... fusing the two states of South Dakota and Nebraska in a way that had never happened before,” he continued. “Progress takes place, and here we are 84 years later with a new opportunity, a new vision for the future.”

“I think it’s important when we look at states like South Dakota and Nebraska, both very rural states, that we continue to work together and find those opportunities to not only share ideas and resources but to come together and make sure our states are treated fairly when it comes to the resources that help make bridges like this possible,” added Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.)

Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) commended area Nebraska and South Dakota officials for coming to Washington for years to promote the need for a new bridge.

“You went to Washington, D.C., to tell your story on why this bridge had to be built,” he said. “Congratulations, Yankton. Today is a day to celebrate.”

Throughout the ceremony, area officials also promoted their transportation wishes for the future — namely, a four-lane expressway between Norfolk, Neb., and Yankton.

Expressing his relief at ending the long journey to getting a new bridge, Building Yankton’s Bridge to the Future Chairman Jim Black added that he would like to see Highway 81 expanded to a four-lane to “connect the Johnny Carson Boulevard in Norfolk with the Tom Brokaw Boulevard in Yankton.”

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman, dressed in a red Cornhusker shirt and sweater — or University of South Dakota Coyotes and Yankton Bucks red, as various speakers jokingly pointed out — told those hoping for a four-lane that he has more pressing issues at hand.

“It’s been mentioned a couple of times about the dream of this road from Yankton to Norfolk, and it’s an important priority, but I must share with you that, as the governor of the great state of Nebraska, my first and most important priority is to work with (University of Nebraska football coach) Bo Pelini and make sure we win the national championship in the next couple of years,” he said to a round of laughter from the crowd. “There are important things in Nebraska that we have to get done.”

On a more serious note, Heineman acknowledged the importance of the Discovery Bridge to South Dakota and his state.

“With today’s ribbon cutting, the Discovery Bridge is officially opening a year ahead of schedule and under budget thanks to the work of the Nebraska Department of Roads, our partners across the border in South Dakota, and all the contractors and subcontractors involved in this project,” he said. “This project is important to the economic vitality of northeast Nebraska and southeast South Dakota, and it is the perfect example of how we can work together.”

Dan Timmons, vice president of Jensen Construction, noted that his company has now completed 14 Missouri River crossings.

“Although each of these projects has been different, they also have had much in common,” he said. “Each Missouri River bridge has provided tremendous challenges to overcome. Each has required hard-working, tough-minded and skilled workers led by enthusiastic, experienced, strong leaders.

“On behalf of all of us, we want to congratulate the Nebraska Department of Roads, the South Dakota Department of Transportation, and the cities of Yankton and South Yankton on this day of dedication of your new Discovery Bridge. We are very proud in taking part in your history and are proud of the project we have worked so hard to deliver to you today. We are proud of the quality of work we have produced, the time frame in which we have accomplished the work, and most importantly, the safe manner in which we performed the work.”

At the conclusion of the 90-minute ceremony, a long caravan of cars, led by a vehicle driven by Yankton resident Dave Spencer, who came up with the name for the Discovery Bridge, crawled its way across the new structure. As the traffic from those gathered for the historic occasion died out, the bridge was closed for a short period so traffic control devices could be put in place before it was opened permanently.

After two decades promoting the project, it was literally a dream come true for area residents.

“We here today dreamt the dream of a new bridge,” South Dakota Transportation Commission Chairman Ralph Marquardt had told the crowd at the dedication ceremony. “We here today are happy to have the new bridge. Thanks for the courage to make that come true.”

Copyright © 2008 - Yankton Press & Dakotan

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