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Grand Opening of the Donald Bridge on Friday

The Ministry of Transportation is hosting a Grand Opening celebration at the Donald Bridge on Sept. 21.

The Ministry of Transportation is hosting a Grand Opening celebration at the Donald Bridge on Sept. 21.

A year and a half ago, highway crews took on a massive undertaking at the site of the Donald Bridge.

In February of 2011 construction began on the new Donald Bridge, making it four lanes, widening the shoulders, creating a gentler curve on the west entrance to the bridge, and making it a generally safer bridge.

This project is a small piece of the Kamloops to Golden Project, an upgrading of the Trans-Canada Highway 1 that would see four lanes all the way from Kamloops to Golden.

Member of Parliament David Wilks and Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett will be standing on the new Donald Bridge at the Grand Opening, along with many of the workers from the project.

Flatiron Constructors of Canada is the prime contractor on the project, and have hired many local workers. There has been anywhere from 30 to 50 people working on site at a given time.

The ministry is also taking this time to commemorate the highway’s 50th anniversary

There will be a celebration mix and mingle in town, at the Spirit Square, from noon until 1 p.m. After that people will be heading out to the new bridge for a "Worker's Celebration" and barbecue on the deck of the bridge at 1:45 p.m.