State and local officials met in rural Cullman County on Monday, Sept. 8, 2003, to finally put to rest a project that has been in the works for 40 years: the replacement of Sardis Bridge.
     "This is a great project for the Sardis community," said Associate Commissioner Stanley Yarbrough, who represents the west side of the county, including Sardis. "Everything revolved around teamwork, on the county level on down to the state senate."
    According to Cullman County Engineer Phillip Widner, former Governor George Wallace visited the bridge in the early 1960s with the intent of having the original span, which was built around 1909, replaced. On Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, construction on the new Sardis bridge was completed.
    "We have a lot of projects going on," said Associate Commissioner Wiley Kitchens, who noted that 10 bridges are set to be replaced in addition to the Sardis Bridge and the upcoming Harmony Bridge project, slated to begin in two weeks' time. "I'm glad to be a part of this."
    "We're very fortunate to have had the support we did on this project," said Commission Chairman Norman Tucker. "I'm proud to be a part of this event. We are moving forward in Cullman County."
    Sen. Zeb Little, who served as master of ceremonies at the official ribbon cutting ceremony, told the assembled crowd of local officials and citizens of the Sardis community that the state of Sardis Bridge and several other local bridges was first made known to him shortly before he took office in 1998.

    "Industrial traffic and emergency vehicles were also unable to cross this bridge. This was totally unacceptable. As of today, that's no longer the case in Sardis."
    According to Little, he began working on the project along with former Gov. Don Siegelman and other members of the county legislative delegation shortly after the beginning of his term in office. The project finally came to fruition through a combined effort of state and county officials working together to see it through, he said. "This new bridge is here because all of us worked together," Little said. "This is a county project and it was funded through a county and state partnership."
    "I want to thank the former administrations, including Gov. Don Siegelman, County Commission Chairman George Spear, Associate Commissioners Robert Harbison and Faye Whisenant, and the current administration, Governor Bob Riley, Cullman County Commission Chairman Norman Tucker, and Associate Commissioners Wiley Kitchens and Stanley Yarbrough and Representative Neal Morrison, for their help and dedication to this project," Little said.

    Dr. Nancy Horton, Superintendent of the Cullman County School system, said the bridge would be of great benefit to the children of Cullman County.
    "I really appreciate the help of the Commission with this project," Horton said. "This means 15 miles of driving will be cut off the two bus routes. That may not sound like a lot, but to 5-, 6-, and 7-year olds, it's a long way."
    "This will help the children get to school. I appreciate the efforts of everyone who worked to get this bridge."
    County Engineer Phillip Widner also expressed his gratitude to the citizens of Sardis, particularly those who sacrificed land to the 14-acre right-of-way required to build the bridge.

    "I'd like to say thank you to this community," Widner said. "We really appreciate your support leading up to and during this project ... especially those of you who sacrificed more than others. Without the right-of-way, this project never would've come about."
    Widner also noted that the historical society has been involved in the process and that the old Sardis bridge, constructed in 1909 on 278 Highway near St. Bernard and moved to Sardis in the 1930s, will be preserved for posterity.

    The bridge - one of the few remaining Pratt-truss bridges in the world, according to Widner - will remain in its current location and will be cordoned off and restricted to foot traffic.
    Funding for the new bridge was originally supplied by a $1 million pledge from former Gov. Don Siegelman in 1999. During the design phase of the project, it was discovered that the bridge would likely cost in excess of $3 million, however, and Sen. Zeb Little persuaded Siegelman to allow Cullman County to transfer $1.5 million allocated for the Harmony Bridge project to the Sardis Bridge. An additional $1 million was also pledged to the Harmony Project. Both bridges are county projects requiring a 20-percent match in county funds.