CASTLO News!

"Steelworkers Bridge Ribbon Cutting Ceremony"

September 29, 2005, Struthers Journal
 

Struthers Mayor and MRCO Chair Daniel C. Mamula were the Master of Ceremonies at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Steelworkers Bridge located off of Walton Avenue. The ceremony took place on Monday, September 19, 2005.

Campbell Mayor Jack Dill told the attending crowd of four companies (Casey Equipment, Quality Bar, Monroe Steel and Allegheny Heat Treating) operating on the site of the former Campbell Works that employ a total of 200 people, "This bridge will go a long way in helping these companies expand and to spur further development in the MRCO."

As part of the ribbon cutting ceremony, Congressman Tim Ryan awarded a 1.6 million check to the MRCO for infrastructure improvements in the MRCO and to study a new I-680 interchange at Shirley Road. Mayor Mamula said this money will be used to access other money to make needed roadway improvements and to build another bridge to replace the one-lane bridge now in use at the end of Union Street/Bob Cene Way.

A dozen or so former steel workers were on hand to see the President of the Board of Mahoning County Commissioners, Athony Traficanti, read the resolution from the Board of Commissioners dedicating Walton Avenue structure as The Steelworkers Bridge.

The U.S. Economic Department Administration awarded $1.8 million for the building of the bridge. Truly a collaborative effort,  the balance of the $4 million bridge is being paid for through the Mahoning County Economic Development Fund ($850,000), the Ohio Department of Development ($650,000), the Mahoning County Bridge Bond Levy Fund ($230,000), Recycling Division of Mahoning County ($225,000), Ohio Rail Development Commission ($100,000), Youngstown Community Block Grant ($50,000), and a special grant through Rep. Tim Ryan ($50,000).

The general contractor of the bridge was A.P. O'Horo Co. of Liberty, and engineering and architectural services were provided by MS Consultants of Youngstown.

The much anticipated bridge will help provide access to the 1,400 acre MRCO site situated along the banks of the Mahoning River in Struthers, Campbell, and Youngstown. The MRCO is a planning committee of organizations from public and private sectors that have partnered together to facilitate the reclamation, redevelopment and promotion of the underutilized and abandoned properties left by the closing of the steel mills in the 1970's.