Unalaska, AK – Community leaders with gold painted scissors stood in the wind to cut the yellow and blue ribbons and mark the official opening of the new south Channel Bridge. The bridge's new official name means "other side" in Unangam Tunuu. The Alaska Department of Transportation's regional director Gordon Keith presided over the event and spoke about the design of the bridge.

"The bridge is designed with a low profile to blend in with the surrounding area and to match up with the scenic beauty here."

He said it also incorporates new seismic technology.

"We've learned a lot about seismic engineering the last 10 to 15 years. The old bridge does not meet the seismic criteria," he said. "This new bridge has all the latest earthquake technology incorporated into it so it should last our lifetime."

Project Manager Shawn Combs said the crew worked hard to complete the bridge but had to face the challenges of the local weather.

"The main impact was of course wind. Anytime you're setting a 75 ton concrete girder in 30 mph wind, it's pretty challenging for a contactor," he said. "There were quite a few days when ACC had to shut down for the day. And that's a major impact, something no one can control but in the end ACC came out ahead."

Combs said a barge from the Kodiak area should be arriving on October 8 to remove the old bridge, which will be melted down in a foundry in Seattle for recycling. The top wooden planks from the old bridge were used for firewood and the larger thicker ones will be re-used as crane mounts.

Keith said future DOT projects might include paving Ballyhoo and East Point Roads, though there is no current funding available for the projects.