For nearly a year now, residents and motorists around the Indian Guyan bridge replacement have endured traffic jams, long delays and some frustrations.

Those will hopefully dissipate and start to become a distant memory with the scheduled re-opening of two-lane traffic with the completion of the bridgework that seemed like it would never end.

This is a welcomed sight for motorists traveling east and westbound on State Route 7 just outside of the village of Proctorville.

While other projects have begun in the area, namely the work on the 31st Street bridge, it will certainly be a breath of fresh air for those who sat in traffic, some multiple times in one day, or had to take detours to reach their destination.

The project seemed to encounter delay after delay, including a worker tragically losing his life, but we applaud those who worked on the replacement of the bridge along with residents who were patient during the long process.

Seeing enhancement projects like this in Lawrence County is important. And while they may take longer than expected, making sure we have good and safe roadways and bridges should always be at the top of the priority list no matter how long it takes.