It’s been a long time coming, but officials from both sides of the Missouri River have finally cut the ribbon on the new Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge on US-59 between Atchison, Kansas and Winthrop, Missouri. KDOT and MODOT plan to remove the old bridge early next year.

The new, four lane tiered arch structure cost $60 million dollars, which is being split between the two states.

The opening celebration was conducted Tuesday under the signature arch span and included comments by Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback; Kansas Transportation Secretary Mike King; Missouri Department of Transportation Director Kevin Keith; Kansas Rep. Jerry Henry; Atchison Mayor Allen Reavis; and Atchison County Commissioner Jeff Schuele.

Kimberly Qualls of KDOT expected both directions of travel to be opened to motorists by 2:20 p.m. Tuesday.

The event also included Ann Birney as Amelia Earhart and a ceremonial bike ride across the bridge by students from Atchison USD 409, Atchison County USD 377, Atchison Catholic Elementary School, Trinity Lutheran School and Atchison Area Homeschoolers.

The bridge stretches nearly 2,500 feet over the Missouri River, and is distinguished by its double steel arches on the main river span and special aesthetic lighting. It replaces the existing two-lane structure, which was completed in 1938 and is too narrow to handle some of today’s larger truck loads and farm implements. The extra lanes also will accommodate the greater numbers of vehicles that now pass over the bridge daily.

Construction of the bridge began in the spring of 2009. The AE Memorial Bridge replacement is a cooperative project funded by the Kansas and Missouri transportation departments. Of the $59.4 million construction cost, KDOT will contribute $30.6 million and MoDOT will contribute $28.8 million