Governor John Kasich joined Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear for the groundbreaking ceremony of the to-be-built Ironton-Russell Bridge. The Ironton Tribune has the details below:
Building a new bridge across the Ohio River may have been a long time coming, but when the dirt was flung into the air Thursday at Depot Square, history was made and the future took shape.
It was a momentous day for both the City of Ironton and Russell, Ky.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, as well as Ironton and Russell mayors Rich Blankenship and William Hopkins, and Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jerry Wray ceremoniously broke ground for the new Ironton-Russell Bridge.
Against the backdrop of the current bridge, hundreds of citizens and dozens of elected officials from both sides of the river gathered to celebrate the largest ODOT construction project — more than $80 million — ever awarded in Lawrence County.
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The new bridge will be located between Second and Jefferson streets in downtown Ironton and near the U.S. 23 viaduct south of Russell, Ky.
Governors Kasich and Beshear recognized that a new Ironton-Russell Bridge is vital to the area and an important representation of how politicians can work together.
“What we’re doing today is an excellent example of what political leaders all across this country ought to be doing,” Beshear said. “Democrats, Republicans and Independents ought to be coming together and putting politics aside and doing what’s best for the people of our states. … The more we work together, the more you’re going to see your quality of life improve.”
Kasich assured the crowd that southern Ohio has not been forgotten by leaders.
“I know for a long time, you have felt neglected and ignored,” he said. “And I think you have assets and capabilities here that need to be taken advantage of.
You can read the entire article here.