VAN BUREN (KFSM) -- A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on the new Pevehouse bridge in Van Buren on Friday (Jan. 22).
The bridge is on Pevehouse Road and was previously a low-water bridge that would often flood.
"Last year we had one guy actually try to swim across it when it was flooded," said Marvin Stout with the Van Buren Fire Department.
First responders said they would put up barricades, but many drivers would ignore them.
Stout also said the area of home across the bridge is in their jurisdiction, and they would have to drive sometimes five to eight minutes out of their way when responding to an emergency.
"It makes a big difference in our response time," Stout said.
The new Pevehouse bridge has eliminated flooding problems so far.
Crawford County Judge John Hall said the bridge cost $1.2 million to build.
FEMA provided a grant for most of the cost while the city and county secured the rest.
"It's amazing just how much traffic crosses this bridge everyday," Hall said.