BROOKHAVEN — A bridge crossing the west Bogue Chitto River finally opened in north Brookhaven Friday. District 2 Supervisor Keith Lewis was with the City the last time the bridge was open to traffic on North Jackson Street.

Brookhaven Mayor Joe Cox said the bridge took about four years to replace because utilities complicated the project. Alderman-at-large Don Underwood said one of the problems they had was 18-wheelers driving across the bridge. GPS routes took the trucks down the North Jackson to Industrial Park Road. The bridge was announced to open this week at Tuesday’s board of alderman meeting. 

Alderman Andre’ Spiller’s parents Andrew and Betty Spiller and Andre’s wife Rhonda Spiller were the first people to officially use the bridge after the ribbon cutting crossing in a Nissan SUV.

When Spiller first took office on the City Board, he began searching for funding to repair or replace the already-closed bridge. The City had no available monies for the project, but the County Board of Supervisors committed $240,000 toward it. Spiller then approached Sen. Jason Barrett, who helped secure funds from the Transportation Commission, which fully funded the project.