A joyous celebration in Walker on Friday marked the end of construction on a major project to replace an aging bridge over I-96.
The city, along with the Michigan Department of Transportation and state lawmakers, gleefully partied on the new bridge for Fruit Ridge Avenue.
The marching band from Kenowa Hills High School brought some up-beat tunes to rally the crowd for Friday’s invite-only ribbon cutting.
The new bridge is five lanes, with two for each direction of travel plus a center turn lane. It also has a separate path for pedestrians and bicyclists to safely enjoy, providing a connection to the larger Musketawa Trail.
It is a big improvement over the old two lane bridge originally built in 1961.
“When the original fruit Ridge bridge was built back in 1961 at the time, it stood as a symbol of progress and connection,” said Walker Mayor Gary Carey. “It was a way for workers, families and businesses to move safely and efficiently across what was then an important corridor.”…