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WEST JORDAN — Dozens of kids today are literally lending a hand to UDOT with an important safety project.
They're putting the finishing touches on a pedestrian bridge that is being relocated from Bangerter Highway and 7800 South to U-111 at 8200 South. Kids helped decorate the bridge that they will use to cross U-111, putting their handprints on it.
That's why Sydney Fisher and her sister Anaelise, and all of these other children came out to make their mark on the bridge.
"We just wanted to come help our community, and thought this would be fun today," Sydney Fisher said.
Some expect to enjoy their handy work in the future.
"We put our handprints on this bridge, and then, when we're going to high school and we need to cross the bridge, we can always say that's where I put my handprint," Anaelise Fisher said.
Crews removed the bridge from Bangerter Highway in December. But West Jordan Representative Jim Bird was eager to re-use the bridge because too many people have been hit by cars on U-111.
"We wanted to save children's lives, and doing that, this bridge was the solution to that problem," Bird said.
The bridge solves a critical safety problem for those growing communities off of U-111. It also solves a financial problem. Recycling this bridge actually saves the state $750,000.
"We need to give it some ownership, put some skin in the game as it were, and at this point some handprints in the game," Bird said.
Bridge goes up on U-111 in the next three weeks, probably just before school starts.
