A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Sept. 20 to celebrate the grand opening of the Richard P. Whittaker, M.D. Memorial Bridge, a new pedestrian bridge that spans Route 724 in Union Township along the Thun Trail, which is part of the Schuylkill River Trail. The bridge is now open to walkers and bicyclists who will no longer have to cross the busy Route 724 roadway on their travels along the trail.

Among those in attendance were members of the Schuylkill River Greenways organization, which spearheaded the project; local elected officials; trail users; and Peggy Whittaker, the wife of the late Dr. Whittaker, for whom the bridge was named. Whittaker led the ribbon-cutting and was the first to cross the new bridge.

Elaine Paul Schaefer, executive director of the Schuylkill River Greenways, was the master of ceremonies for the event. "This has been a long wait for all of us, and we are thrilled to celebrate with you today," she stated.

"It is a beautiful bridge and a beautiful day, and thank you all for coming out ... to honor my late husband," said Whittaker, who also donated funds to complete the project. "It was below freezing during the groundbreaking. What a change and this beautiful bridge is part of that change."

According to http://www.schuylkillriver.org, the new bridge is situated in the area known locally as the Monocacy Crossing, where trail users previously had to descend a steep slope to cross Route 724 and ascend another slope on the opposite side of the road.

Local bicyclists said they are excited about the new bridge, which now eliminates the need for them to dismount their bicycles to cross Route 724. "The trail crossing was steep and treacherous and very dangerous with short sight lines and fast traffic; the new bridge eliminates that danger," said Birdsboro resident Stuart Wells, who attended the ribbon-cutting event. "The grand opening (is) happy news for the many trail users - myself included - who use the Thun Trail. "

For more information about the bridge and other Schuylkill River Greenways trail projects, visit the previously mentioned website or http://www.facebook.com/SchuylkillRiverGreenways. A video recording of the ribbon-cutting ceremony is available on the Facbeook page.