Parade of cyclists, walkers open Missouri River bridge

April 9, 2011 at 5:00 a.m. | Updated April 9, 2011 at 5:00 a.m.

A group of bicyclists await the actual ribbon-cutting so they can proceed with their ride up the ramp and across the river Friday. A ceremony was held for the opening of the U.S. 54/63 Missouri River bicycle/pedestrian bridge.
A group of bicyclists await the actual ribbon-cutting so they can proceed with their ride up the ramp and across the river Friday. A ceremony was held for the opening of the U.S. 54/63 Missouri River bicycle/pedestrian bridge.

Winding around the 1,100 feet of concrete ramps, LeRoy Heman led more than 100 cyclists and walkers from the Noren access up to the Missouri River bicycle/pedestrian bridge Friday.

With his daughter Jennifer riding in a trailer behind his bicycle, they had the honor of being the first official travelers on the pedestrian/bicycle attachment to the U.S. 54 eastbound/U.S. 63 northbound Missouri River bridge after the ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday morning.

"It's quite an honor," Heman said. "It's the high point of our day, our year maybe."

Behind the Hemans was Pat Jones, a long-time supporter of the Katy Trail State Park project, who was pulled in a bicycle buggy. The pedestrian/bicycle bridge officially will be named in honor of Jones on April 20.

The 1,400-foot-long attached bridge now connects the Katy Trail to the Capital City.

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