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Middleton bridge dedication set Monday (July 26)

Middleton Road, a major arterial in Canyon County, has a new bridge spanning the Boise River and Fifteen Mile Creek. Monday morning (July 26), ITD, the county, the city of Middleton and a 5-year-old guest of honor will dedicate the new river crossing.

The $2.6 million project broke ground in December 2002. Twice each day, Joni Irby drove her son Mitchell through the project, to and from his day-care. Each day Mitchell grew more and more friendly with the workers, ultimately becoming the project’s unofficial mascot.

“Mitchell was an inspiration to all of us on the project. He is the future of this state and it made us understand what a lot of hard work was going to do,” said Emmett Moore of District 3/Region 3. “He lifted our spirits with his smiling face and happy disposition. His mother also deserves recognition. She was the one who let him have the window down in some not-so-kind weather conditions.”

On Monday, Mitchell, along with Transportation Board Chairman Chuck Winder, Middleton Mayor Frank McKeever and Canyon Highway District chairman Ralph Little, among others, will officially open the new bridge.

The ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. and is open to the public. The First Street Café and Donut Shop in Middleton will provide coffee and donuts. To reach the site from Idaho 44, turn south on Middleton Road (east end of Middleton). ITD staff will assist with parking.

The project included the replacement of two aging bridges: The Fifteen Mile Creek Bridge and the Boise River Bridge. The new structures have pedestrian walkways. Middleton Road also has been realigned to modify a sharp curve, which will make the road safer. Adams and Smith of Lindon, Utah, was the contractor while Keller and Associates of Meridian were the design consultants.