December 25, 2024
Local News

New Savanna bridge will open Friday

By STAFF REPORT

A caravan of cars, truck and motorcycles filled the Savanna-Sabula Bridge on Oct. 21, on their way to “Bridge Fest – The Last Drive” in Savanna for a celebration to honor the old bridge and celebrate the new one, which can be seen at right. A ribbon cutting for the new Dale Gardner Veterans Memorial Bridge will be Friday. (Michael Krabbenhoeft)

SAVANNA – Drivers have been waiting to cross a bridge when they come to it, and now they can.

A ribbon cutting for the Dale Gardner Veterans Memorial Bridge between Savanna and Sabula, Iowa, will be 1 p.m. Friday, rain or shine; people can begin arriving at 12:30.

Speakers include Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn and Iowa DOT Director Mark Lowe, State Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, Savanna Mayor Chris Lain, and Sabula Mayor Paul Figgie.

The $80 million bridge replaces the Savanna-Sabula Bridge, which was built in 1932. The old bridge will be demolished some time in the coming months. A larger celebration is planned for June.

The new bridge is named of honor of Gardner, a class of 1966 Savanna Community High School graduate and Navy veteran who joined NASA and orbited the Earth 225 times. He died Feb. 19, 2014.

Parking and a shuttle bus to the ceremony will be available in Savanna along the alley just west of Main Street, from Webster to Van Buren streets.

Call Illinois DOT at 815-284-2271 for more information.

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