As the City of Globe’s endeavor to replace Connie’s Bridge moves along, City Manager Paul Jepson said a second new bridge over Pinal Creek – the smaller Cottonwood Bridge near the city’s historic train depot – was “making good progress” as July began.

The $2.8 million Cottonwood Bridge replacement project, for which Arizona State Representative David Cook helped obtain funding, is being managed by the Arizona Department of Transportation on the City of Globe’s behalf. When completed, the new bridge will be turned over to the city.

Jepson said the supports and culverts were in place, and that ADOT was preparing to form and pour the new bridge’s deck. Part of the project, he added, is to redo the approaching railroad crossing to make it smoother. Jepson said there would be no change in signaling, nor would gates be added. The City, he said, will also make sidewalk enhancements on the Broad Street end of the bridge.

The project is expected to be finished between November 2024 and January 2025.