RENO, Nev. (AP) — The city of Reno is planning to celebrate the completion of its $18.2 million Virginia Street Bridge project this spring.
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that Mayor Hillary Schieve and City Council members will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new bridge on April 12.
The new bridge is aimed at increasing the region's overall flood control efforts. It replaces the 110-year-old Virginia Street Bridge, which had been a choke-point where trees and other debris dammed up during floods.
City planners say the new design will allow floodwaters to pass freely beneath the bridge.
Demolition on the historic bridge began last June. Historic preservationists had been pushing for its protection, but city planners eventually decided they couldn't afford the nearly $40 million in necessary repairs.