Brigham City leaders and residents came together to celebrate the imminent opening of the new Forest Street overpass.

The ribbon cutting, which took place on Tuesday, July 7, was ceremonial. The road itself won't be open to the public for a couple more weeks, after the parapet walls, lighting, and a few other small details are finished.

An estimated 125 people attended the event, which featured short messages from Mayor DJ Bott, former mayor and current County Commissioner Tyler Vincent, State Senator Scott Sandall, former state representative and current Director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources Joel Ferry, and State Representative Tom Peterson. Sandall and Ferry were responsible for introducing the legislation that made funding the project possible.

Bott called the overpass "generational" and compared it to other projects such as Mantua Reservoir and the recent replacement of the penstock lines. He thanked the businesses and residents who have been affected during the construction process for their patience and also encouraged attendees to visit the Historic Train Depot, which sits just south of the new overpass.

Sandall spoke about the process of securing funding for the project. He said then-Mayor Vincent had been relentless about contacting local legislators about the need for a solution to unpredictable and sometimes long waits at the railroad crossing. It was particularly concerning when emergency vehicles had to detour or wait when they were responding to an incident.

After negotiating with the railroad failed, legislators instead repealed a railroad fuel tax credit and redirected that money to a fund designated for infrastructure projects that would improve safety in communities affected by railroads. The overpass in Brigham City is the first such project to benefit from the fund.

More photos and short video clips can be found on our overpass web page.