With assistance from Winfield Township supervisor Matt Klabnik and her daughter Sandra Grau, Helen Denny Cypher cuts the ribbon Saturday dedicating the new bridge at Denny's Mills in Winfield Township.

WINFIELD TWP — Helen Denny Cypher can't recall a time when there wasn't a Denny's Mills Bridge.

“There's always been a bridge there,” said the 100-year-old township resident in an interview.

Cypher was among those present Saturday for the ribbon-cutting of the new concrete version of the bridge on Marwood Road.

Sandy Grau of Virginia, Cypher's daughter, said on Friday her mother was glad to be asked to attend the ceremony.

“She was very thrilled to do this,” Grau said.

Cypher remembered the structure being replaced several times over the decades.

Grau said the bridge is so old, dating back to the mid-1800s, no one knows which Denny it was named after.

The new 50-foot bridge replaced a deteriorated 39-foot bridge.

Winfield paid Butler County $200,000 to do the work, which was necessitated by rotting steel beams and loose stone.

The township took out a 10-year loan from PNC with a 3 percent interest rate to pay for the new bridge, which was opened July 12.

The project's completion was delayed multiple times due to various factors, including administrative hang-ups with West Penn Power.

Supervisor Mike Robb, board chairman, said the bridge still was reopened much sooner than if the township went through the state instead of the county.

“I know people were anticipating the bridge being open sooner but it got finished,” Robb said. “I think that's tremendous with all the challenges.

He said the project may not have been done before 2017 and cost significantly more if the state did the work.