Ribbon Cutting Held at New Big Blue River Bridge

The new U.S. 77 Big Blue River Bridge near Blue Rapids is nearly completed.

In a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday afternoon, signs were unveiled designating the bridge as the 1st Lt. Michael Hugh Breeding Memorial Bridge. Breeding was a member of the Marine Attack Squadron 122, Marine Air Group 13, 1st Marine Air Wing.

On Feb. 12, 1970, he was the pilot of a McDonnell Douglas Phantom II fighter that crashed into the sea near South Vietnam. His remains were never recovered.

Comments were made by KDOT Deputy Secretary Jerry Younger, Blue Rapids Mayor John Nowak, Marshall County Commissioner Thomas Holle, Rep. Sharon Schwartz, who presented legislation in 2010 to have the bridge named after Breeding in his honor, Patrick Breeding and Major David Dunn of the U.S. Marine Corp.

The new bridge has added safety benefits with 12 foot driving lanes and 8 foot shoulders, also the addition of a deceleration lane for northbound vehicles turning east on k-9 and an acceleration lane for eastbound vehicles turning on to U.S. 77.

Picture Courtesy of Tom Parker at Get Blue Rapids!