Rebuilding a Bridge We Barely Knew Existed

Clay County, a place where time allegedly stands still, has just witnessed a modern marvel that promises to go down in the history books—or at least the history pamphlets. The Longridge Road bridge, a creaky 32-foot single-span steel girder structure on the east side of Liberty built back in the glamorous year of 1935, has finally been put out of its misery. And who do we have to thank for this monumental achievement? None other than the beacon of progress himself, County Commissioner Jason Withington, and his merry band of "Better Clay County" enthusiasts.

Before

For years, the bridge bravely carried the burden of a 15-ton weight limit, all while most of the county remained blissfully unaware of its existence. But the few who knew of it—mostly truckers, a couple of cows, and the odd GPS-confused tourist—will tell you that it was a quaint relic of an era when infrastructure was, well, functional.

But Withington, never one to let sleeping bridges lie, saw potential where others saw... nothing, really. "Promises made, promises kept!" he triumphantly declared, as though the bridge had been a central campaign issue since the dawn of time. One might almost think the entire county had been holding its collective breath, waiting for this very moment.

After

The new Longridge Road bridge, now open to traffic, stands as a gleaming testament to what can happen when you pour time, money, and just a touch of delusional grandeur into a project no one was particularly clamoring for. Dont get this lil rock wrong,  the bridge, with its modern design and presumably higher weight limit, is an improvement. But let’s not get carried away—it's still just a bridge.

Residents are expected to celebrate the reopening by continuing to drive over it with the same lack of fanfare as before. But for Jason Withington, this bridge is more than just a pathway—it's a symbol of his unwavering commitment to making Clay County... marginally better, one obscure infrastructure project at a time.

So, next time you find yourself on Longridge Road, spare a thought for the little bridge that could, and for the man who made it all possible. After all, who needs healthcare reform or job creation when you’ve got a shiny new bridge to admire?