Chipley- The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the City of Vernon marked the official completion of the new Vernon Bridge on State Road (S.R.) 79 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held today at the Vernon City Square.

The event celebrated the culmination of more than three years of construction, during which the antiquated two-lane structure was replaced with two two-lane bridges crossing Holmes Creek. The $21.2 million project began July 20, 2009 and was officially opened to traffic in January 2013.

In addition to the new bridge, FDOT realigned S.R. 277 and County Road 279, installed a new traffic signal at the S.R. 277 and S.R. 79 intersection and added various pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements.

The bridge is part of a continuing effort by FDOT to widen S.R. 79 from U.S. 98 in Bay County to I-10 in Holmes County in order to ease corridor congestion, encourage economic development opportunities and improve safety.

For more Florida Department of Transportation District Three information follow us on twitter @myfdot_nwfl.