Thursday will be the culmination of years of work and many promises. It will be a great day for Ironton and the entire Tri-State as a groundbreaking ceremony will officially mark the start of the construction of the new Ironton-Russell Bridge.

It may also be the first time that Gov. John Kasich officially visits Lawrence County while in office and we hope he takes advantage of the trip to southern Ohio to get a feel for the entire region and our needs.

The bridge has been a long time coming and the project has been fraught with a myriad of delays, false starts and setbacks. All that is, as they say, simply water under the bridge, so to speak.

The important thing is that our communities are finally getting a replacement for the nearly 100-year-old existing span.

Finally commencing construction on the bridge will remove all the uncertainty that has surrounded the project for so many years. It may also provide a shot in the arm for economic development projects on both sides of the Ohio River because, when completed, it will create a more seamless roadway and infrastructure system across the entire Tri-State.

The old saying is that good things come to those who wait. Ironton and Lawrence County have waited a long time for this good thing to come.