By CRAIG FREILICH and ADAM ATKINSON
North Country Now

RUSSELL – The bridge over the Grasse River in the center of the community will be re-opened with a ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5.

Motorists and commuters traveling back and forth on County Route 24 through the center of Russell will be relieved at not having to take a detour through Hermon they have used since May when the rebuilding of the structurally deficient bridge began.

“I think it will be well received,” said St. Lawrence County Highway Superintendent Don Chambers. “It’s very important to the community.”

“It will now allow response times for the fire department and EMS to return to normal, and shorten school bus rides,” Chambers said.

The new structure, contracted out by the county at $2,864,000, will replace the old truss-style bridge. The span is one of the key points to cross the Grasse River for commuters headed north to Canton from points in southern St. Lawrence County, or traveling south to Trout Lake in Edwards.

A detour to Hermon on Route 17, adding several miles to the trip around Russell, has been posted during the work. Other routes on alternative roads through Fine, Clare and Pierrepont have provided other options.

Chambers said laying down the final course of asphalt on the approaches to the bridge will have to wait until higher temperatures in the spring.