Sometimes change starts with a single voice but the Ohio Department of Transportation will take that a step further and provide the proverbial microphone.

To seek community input on a $70 million construction project to replace the 82-year-old Ironton-Russell Bridge, ODOT will host a third aesthetic design meeting from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday in the lobby of the Ironton City Center, 301 S. Third St.

Recently, ODOT's design team has met with representatives from both Ironton and Russell, Ky., to look at ways to make the 2,500 foot, cable-stayed bridge that is similar in design to the 31st Street Bridge in Proctorville blend in as a part of each community.

While the bridge will be state-of-the-art, it should also "reflect who you are," Karen Young, major program manager for ODOT's central office in Columbus, said in August.

All the skeptics that think ODOT will ignore them should just ask ACE - the Ashland Cycling Enthusiasts, that is.

Representatives from the bicycling club of nearly 40 members from across the Tri-State attended the past meeting to request that a bike lane be considered in the design.

Club member and Ironton resident Anke McCown said Tuesday that ODOT has agreed to the idea that will be a valuable addition to the project.

"I am just really thrilled," she said. "It will have a nice pedestrian walkway but they had not thought about a bike path. Of course we have the right to ride on the street, but this will be much safer."

McCown, who rides with the group two or three times a week, said this will be yet another way to connect the communities.

Ironton Mayor John Elam was excited about the meeting and what the new bridge could add to the city.

"I think this will be a chronological timeframe of where the city has been and where it is going," he said. "I am very interested to see what ODOT engineers and graphic designers have designed for a pictorial look at Ironton's past and future."

Elam said he believes that comments from the previous meetings will be incorporated into the preliminary designs and displayed Thursday.

The projected location calls for the approach to begin near the intersection of Second and Jefferson streets in Ironton and connect to the intersection of Kentucky 244 and U.S. 23 in Russell.

At its highest point on the central tower, the bridge will rise approximately 500 feet above the river.

Construction bids could be awarded in October 2005.

Physical construction could begin in April 2006 and be completed in October 2008.

Removal of the old bridge is scheduled to begin in April 2009 and be completed that October.