KELLY FARRELL / Staff

Constructions crews complete a few final tasks late Wednesday afternoon as they prepare for the East Winterberry Bridge reopening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday at noon. The new $5.2 million bridge, which spans Roberts Bay near the corner of Winterberry Drive and S. Barfield Drive, has been closed for nine months and will be open again for traffic immediately following the ceremony.

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The East Winterberry Bridge reopens Friday after being closed for just over nine months. With a new 75-year lifespan, the bridge shouldn’t be closed for construction again anytime soon.

The project nears completion close to the projected schedule. Several weeks ago Public Works Director Rony Joel projected that the earliest the $5.2 million project would be complete was June 16.

Marco City Council will hold a “Ribbon-cutting and Reopening Ceremony” for the new East Winterberry Bridge at noon, Friday to commemorate the completion of the replacement project.

The ribbon-cutting will be held on the east side of the new bridge, according to a prepared press release. The East Winterberry Bridge, once a hurricane ravaged 33-year old structure, will now officially reopen to the public immediately following the ceremony.

The East Winterberry Bridge has been closed since Sept. 17, 2007 due to severe deterioration and structural issues. The newly constructed bridge spanning Roberts Bay is 120 feet long, 36 feet wide and has a weight restriction of 25 tons.

The precast concrete I-beam bridge, with concrete abutments will receive a few finishing touches over the next few weeks.

The contractor still needs to do some additional work, such as streetscaping, improving sidewalks and lighting. Most of that work will be minimal intrusion to motorists, according to the press release. The contractor has up to 60 days to complete these final aspects of the project, said Lisa Douglass, city public information coordinator.

The public is invited to attend the informal dedication and reopening ceremony.