“It's really a bridge across our community.”
Those promising words came from Trail Mayor Mike Martin during Wednesday's pipe/pedestrian bridge ground breaking ceremony.
“And for those of you that have history of the Lower Columbia region, you know what I am talking about. It's really going to be something that is a landmark representing what we can accomplish by working together.”
The city hosted the event in Rotary Park with local officials and regional partners on hand, as well as the bridge designer and constructor.
“We could not have done this without the commitment and resolve of our partners...when we had some very dark days in August and September,” he added. “Quite honestly we all thought we had lost it and would be back at the drawing board after four years getting to this point.”
Rossland Mayor Kathy Moore agreed, saying trust, collaboration and cooperation were essential in bringing the regional project to fruition.
“Many times I didn’t think we'd be standing here, at least not this year,”she said. “It's because we worked together as a group and because we trusted each other and relied on each other's word that we are here today.”
Moore reminded the crowd of about 50, that she, Martin and Warfield Mayor Ted Pahl are three new mayors.
“We are setting the tone for the region because we believe collaborating and trusting each other will benefit us far more than some of the past animosity where you put your own community first and forget the rest,” she added.
“We are trying to break that pattern because we know working together will do far more for our region..if all of our areas bind together...because being one voice, we will be far more successful.”
Coun. Diane Langman stood in for Pahl, acknowledging regional partnerships.
“We all spoke of wanting to foster regional collaboration when we were elected,” she said. “And this is a shining example of what it can look like when we all work together.”