TROY – Troy and Miami County officially will welcome the new Adams Street Bridge over the Great Miami River with a dedication at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 15.

Activities will include a ribbon cutting and ceremonial first crossing of the bridge following remarks by city, county and Ohio Department of Transportation representatives.

The new bridge, started in June 2011, replaces a 80-plus year old bridge.

The new version cost just over $6 million, with 80 percent of the money federal funds.

The project was completed about a month early.

“Good weather is the major contributor and the ability of the contractor to modify his schedule to take advantage of it,” said Paul Huelskamp, Miami County Engineer.

The bridge closed in June 2011, the day following the annual Troy Strawberry Festival. The closing was long planned for and generated fears of traffic tie ups and other difficulties with the city being left with the Market Street Bridge to carry traffic north of the river.

The Troy City Schools, which have a junior high school on Adams Street north of the river and the high school nearby, adjusted high school release times to avoid conflict with buses, and braced for delays.

In the end, things went fairly smoothly, schools Superintendent Eric Herman said.

“Actually I think our staff, parents, students, and community did an excellent job in dealing with the bridge being closed. The bus drivers did a great job with the whole situation. Our fear was much greater than what actually happened,” Herman said.

“I think everyone accepted it and then proceeded to change and plan their arrival times.”

Patrick Titterington, city service and safety director, said the project was very smooth from the city’s prospective.

“ODOT and the county engineer did a great job of traffic coordination, debris control and minimizing disruptions. There was great communication when there were project updates and Mayor Beamish and I know the new bridge will be a beautiful asset in the community for many decades to come,” he said.

The new bridge is the fourth built at this location beginning with a metal truss in 1876 followed by a concrete arch bridge in 1913. That bridge was reconstructed and extended following the 1913 flood and development of the river levee.

Contact this reporter at nancykburr@aol.com or (937) 339-4371.