A Modesto bridge that is more than a century old has closed permanently as local leaders move forward with a long-planned replacement project.
The 7th Street Bridge, also known as the Lions Bridge, shut down to traffic on March 16 after decades of structural concerns, including weight limits and aging concrete. Officials say the bridge, built in 1916, is no longer equipped to handle modern traffic demands.
Stanislaus County leaders marked a ceremonial groundbreaking on Wednesday for the new bridge, which will be built in the same location over the Tuolumne River…