ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St Petersburg residents now have a new bridge to use.

The 40th Avenue NE Bridge officially reopened this past weekend, connecting the neighborhoods of Shore Acres and Northeast Park.

Mayor Ken Welch commemorated the reopening — which was years in the making — during a ribbon cutting ceremony.

“We’re excited to celebrate the restoration of this bridge,” Welch said. “A bridge that not only connects geographical landmarks, but symbolizes our interconnectedness as a city.”

Experts say the old bridge was found to be corroded back in 2017 and the structure had to be replaced.

Those living and working in the area said construction delays impacted neighbors for years, including The Gathering Church.

“It did pose a little bit of an issue,” said Janice Roth, who manages the church’s food pantry, Food is Love.

Roth said families who needed the pantry had trouble getting to the church when the 40th Avenue NE Bridge was temporarily closed earlier this year for construction. 

“But it was a blessing in disguise," Roth said. "We had church members and community members that pitched in and delivered the food for us.”

And now those church goers have a brand new bridge to cross.

Officials say the new 40th Avenue NE Bridge, also called the Nathaniel J. Upham Bridge, was built using the latest technology for safety and longevity — which includes stainless steel reinforcement on the foundation piles to prevent corrosion, which was an issue on the old bridge. City officials say much of the bridge was also built with carbon- or glass-reinforced polymer, to protect it from the corrosive environment.

They said the new bridge also includes wider sidewalks, dedicated bike lanes, improved visibility for drivers, aesthetic lighting and more of a clearing for marine traffic.

“Now we’ve got this gorgeous bridge," Roth said. "It’s safe, it’s beautiful. It’s really just a work of art."