The Monroe Street Bridge was under construction Nov. 4, 1971, and had an expected opening date of Dec. 15 of that year. Butler Eagle File photo

Traffic has crossed the Monroe Street Bridge in Butler for more than 50 years, but for most of 1971, drivers awaited the structure’s completion.

According to the Nov. 4, 1971 edition of the Butler Eagle, the Butler County Commissioners heard a report at their Nov. 3, 1971 meeting that the bridge, now known as the Look Out Point Bridge, would be ready by Dec. 15, so long as the weather held out.

John Gumpper, of the engineering firm Walter L. Wimer and Associates, worked on the bridge, and said “good fall weather has enabled work on the Monroe Street Bridge.”

As Gumpper gave his report to the commissioners, workers from Ironworker Local 3 in Pittsburgh completed the “bolting up” process on the bridge, and began to lay the decking.