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After 17 months, $16.5 million and a number of workers and planners, Stewart Street Bridge opened Monday afternoon with Rudy Flyer leading a procession of cars across the way.

City officials, residents, students and other members of the UD community gathered on the bridge Monday for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Former mayor Rhine McLin, UD President Dan Curran and president and CEO of Miami Valley Hospital, Mary Boosalis, were in attendance.

Dayton's assistant director of public works, Steven Finke helped design the bridge along with Richard Perales, UD's campus planning director. Finke's grandfather was the resident engineer for the original bridge built in 1912 and Finke had the opportunity to work on the new and improved bridge his grandfather constructed.

Reconstruction of the bridge cost $15.2 million, but add in the design and the total project cost $16.5 million, Finke said. Funding was provided by the Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Public Works Commission, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission and the city of Dayton. Ahern and Associates Inc. was the contractor who took charge of the construction, according to Finke. The project was finished a few weeks before schedule.

"This was the city's project," said Ted Bucaro, UD's director of government and regional relations. "But they came to us for input about placement and specific features we wanted to enhance."

The modern design is fully equipped with 10 foot sidewalks, a recreation trail and pedestrian plazas at both ends. Additional LED lighting underneath the bridge provides an aesthetic view of the Great Miami River and can even change colors, such as red and blue to support the UD Flyers, Bucaro said.

The city's new bridge has progressed into a six lane passageway across the river from Patterson to Edwin C. Moses boulevards and brings a modern appeal to downtown Dayton as it sets the tone for our unique city.

Not only can the rebuilt bridge hold more cars than the previous bridge, it can now handle an increase in traffic and provide safer travel for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.

The transformed bridge instills a sense of innovation for the city, defining special city landmarks such as UD and downtown.

During the construction, Dayton residents and UD students found new ways to get around the city and adjust as best they could. There were not many complaints about the inconvenience of getting around, Bucaro said.

He claimed the redesigned bridge as a new gateway to the university that will once again allow students the opportunity to walk to sporting events at the UD Arena and Welcome Stadium. It will also make getting home for the holidays easier for those using the highway.

Sophomore Anna Scott from Chicago marveled at the bridge.

"I drove on it for the first time ever and it will definitely be a big help," Scott said. "The bridge being out was not really an inconvenience because sometimes it was easier to get off earlier anyways to avoid traffic. It did take me several tries to find a good route around though."

The Stewart Street Bridge is just one of nine bridges to be replaced in Dayton over a seven year period started in 2005, according to a press release from Dayton's Department of Public Affairs.

"The bridge is another puzzle piece for the downtown plan," Finke said. "It's all fitting together nicely."