Ribbon Cutting Held for Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge Over Interstate

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Published on October 1 2014 4:15 pm
Last Updated on October 1 2014 4:15 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

(A NUMBER OF LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS TAKE A CEREMONIAL WALK ACROSS THE PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE BRIDGE OVER I-57/70 AT FAYETTE AVENUE AFTER WEDNESDAY'S RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY)

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday afternoon to officially open the pedestrian/bicycle bridge over Interstates 57/70 at the Fayette Avenue interchange.

The jewel in the crown that is the expansion of the interstates through Effingham from four to six lanes will link the City to the TREC trail network.

A host of dignitaries were on hand for the ceremony. Omer Osmen, Director of IDOT's Division of Highways, said, "As an engineer, a project like this gets my blood going." Osmen said he thinks the interstate expansion project around Effingham could be done with the last piece next year. District 7 Engineer Roger Driskell said that timetable might be a little ambitious, but said much will depend on the weather this winter.

107th District State Representative John Cavaletto said, "You have 18-wheelers, you have four-wheelers, now you have two-wheelers (that can cross the bridge); you have it all in Effingham." Cavaletto said the bridge "will be a lifesaver (making crossing the interstate safe) and a life builder (allowing for healthy activity using the trails)."

Effingham Mayor Merv Gillenwater, a frequent walker, said he and his wife have already been using the bridge. He said the bridge provides "a safe means of walking, running and riding across the interstate." He said the expansion of the interstate to six lanes "gives travelers the impression of a much larger community, and allows people to make the transition from the city to the rural area in a matter of minutes."

(THOSE WITH A HAND ON THE SCISSORS, LEFT TO RIGHT: EFFINGHAM MAYOR MERV GILLENWATER, TREC BOARD PRESIDENT FRANK BRUMMER, STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOHN CAVALETTO AND IDOT DISTRICT 7 ENGINEER ROGER DRISKELL)

Effingham County Board member Karen Luchtefeld, also a TREC board member, was a last-minute pinch-hitter for County Board Chairman Jim Niemann who sprained his ankle Wednesday. Luchtefeld thanked all who have worked on the project.

TREC Board President Frank Brummer quoted the proverb that "it takes a village to raise a child", and then adapted it for the occasion to "it takes a community to make it safe for our children." Brummer said, "We need to make their childhood so much fun they won't want to live anywhere else."

Brummer and Ed Barsotti, who heads the League of Illinois Bicylists, both lobbied for the painting of bike paths on designated city streets. Barsotti worked with a group of citizens several years ago to develop a bike plan for the city that was adopted by the Effingham City Council, but is yet to be implemented. Barsotti said, "Becoming bike-friendly is a way Effingham can continue to expand."