By Shannon K. Jones
Staff Reporter
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SAULT STE. MARIE - After being closed for more than 30 years, the newly constructed Fort Street Bridge opened to vehicle and pedestrian traffic on Friday, Sept. 30. The bridge connects Fort Street and West Spruce Street across the Edison Sault power canal.
"This will help traffic immensely from both Lake Superior State University and downtown Sault Ste. Marie," said Sault Mayor Anthony Bosbous at opening ceremonies also held on Sept. 30.
According to Sault City Manager Spencer Nebel, construction of the new bridge faced a number of hurdles.
"We had tricky issues with the state historic office," he said, adding that funding was also an issue.
The Michigan Department of Transportation was reluctant to fund the project considering the bridge had been closed for 33 years.
Both Nebel and Bosbous credited former State Rep. Scott Shackleton for his efforts in garnering 95 percent of the bridge funding from MDOT's Critical Bridge Fund. After the opening ceremonies those in attendance were given the opportunity to be the first to walk across the bridge, followed by members of the Sault High Band who performed music for the ceremony, and various city vehicles.
The first Fort Street Bridge was opened in 1902 as one of six built when the Edison Sault power canal was constructed. At the time, all six combined cost $75,000; the new Fort Street Bridge cost $2.5 million.
The previous bridge closed to vehicle traffic in 1972 and continued to allow for pedestrian traffic until 1987. That bridge remained closed but in place until 2003 when the bridge was disassembled. It is currently being stored at Ashmun Bay Park to be preserved and utilized for a future project.
