State officials join in ribbon-cutting

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
A new bridge over CSX Railroad and a connecting road linking Longhorn Pass to Georgia Street in Hartselle was officially opened on Friday afternoon following a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
It replaces an old wooden bridge 200 feet to the north that was built by L&N Railroad in the early 1900s. The bridge was weakened by a fire in the early 1990s and had a 3,000-pound weight limit.
Ribbon-cutting participants included Mayor Dwight Tankersley and Council Chairman Kenny Thompson, State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, and Joe McInnis, director of the Alabama Department of Transportation.
He said the bridge was a part of the city’s comprehensive plan as early as 1992 and was approved by ALDOT as a state-funded project in 2002. The agreement was updated in 2005 after the original project estimate of $1.5 million climbed above $2 million. At that time the city agreed to contribute $300,000 toward the cost.
The old railroad bridge was closed when construction of the new bridge began, as was Hammitt Street, north from McDaniel’s Landing Apartments to the Hartselle City Cemetery. Hammitt will continue to be open for access to the cemetery.
The new bridge and connecting roadway is the first phase of a North Hartselle Bypass to be completed. Other phases, when completed, will link Highway 31 to Highway 36 at I-65.