The new Climax Bridge will be inaugurated on Saturday, October 25, at 11:00 a.m., and the ribbon will be cut at the site. It replaces the Climax War Memorial bridge, which was built in 1957 and will be torn down this winter.
The new bridge opened last weekend, with Climax Mayor Pam Berg the first to cross it. The next people to cross it were Elroy and Sandy Hedde, a Valley United Co-op grain truck, Jane Vigness, and the Amy and Kyle Swenson family.
The bridge is the fifth at the Climax location, with the first bridge having wood planks that could be taken out in case of ice jams. The Climax Bridge is important to the area. “The bridge is an essential link between North Dakota and Minnesota over our beloved Red River. It’s the Red River of the North, and it flows northward 550 miles from its source in Breckenridge, Minnesota, to Lake Winnipeg in Canada,” said Sheila Capistran. “It forms most of the border between North Dakota and Minnesota. So it’s a pretty important river.”
After the ribbon cutting, there will be a ceremony, food, and refreshments served at the Sand Hill Historical Society building (the old Farmers Union building). “After all the hoop-de-doo, there will be a gathering at the Sand Hill Heritage Center, which is part of the Sand Hill Historical Society. And there will be a fabulous free will offering lunch of barbecues, chips, drinks, and cookies,” said Sheila Capistran. “One of the things to note is that the celebration at the bridge is pretty short and sweet because the sheriff’s department can’t stop traffic. They can only slow it down. So we’re doing the ribbon cutting, and then most of the speakers and stuff will be coming back to our historical society. And that’s where the food will be, too.”
While at the ceremony, check out the new mural of Climax by artist Beau Bakken of Hallock. “There was this fabulous mural done by Bo Bakken of Hallock, and you’ve got to come and see it. Boy, we’re just all kinds of things going on,” said Capistran.
The new Climax bridge ribbon cutting will be on Saturday, October 25, at 11:00 a.m. at the bridge. Following the ribbon cutting, there will be a ceremony, speakers, and a free-will lunch at the Sand Hill Historical Society building. The public is invited to attend.
