By Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
On Friday, February 21, Prattville city officials, business owners and state representatives gathered at the South Industrial Park Bridge, a project that has been in the works since 1982.
The bridge, which connects Highway 82 and County Road 4, brings many opportunities to the City of Prattville.
“This road and bridge will act as a gateway to our Industrial Park. It will make travelling safer and easier for people who want to go to the ball park or the neighborhoods back on County Road 4,” said Mayor Bill Gillespie. “We’ve already had more businesses that have contacted us about moving into the industrial park, so I really think the sky is the limit here. This road and bridge are just the beginning.”
Senator Clyde Chambliss, one of the key partners in completing the bridge project, was also present at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“This is a great day. Vision is so important for our community and this is a project that has been years in the making. This bridge gives us opportunities for the next 40 or 50 years. It’s not just about today, it’s about the next four or five decades,” Chambliss said.
Jay Thompson, Autauga County Commissioner for District Four and Board Chairman, says the completion of the bridge and road project really boils down to hard work.
“We’ve had thousands of people work on making this dream become a reality for the past 30 years. This bridge helps to bring an even better quality of life to the people of Prattville,” Thompson said.
Mayor Gillespie closed the ceremony by reiterating the importance of the road and bridge.
“Let me stand firm when I say this should be considered a bridge to everywhere. This brings investments, jobs and long-term industrial stability to the City of Prattville,” Gillespie said.
The bridge project is about providing careers and industries better transportation access to different parts of Prattville. It’s been over 30 years in the making, but now, it gives the City of Prattville opportunities for decades to come.
