The ribbon is cut on the new Panther Bridge. Photo by Debbie Torres
With the snip of ceremonial scissors and the cheers of proud community members, the Town of Superior celebrated the official grand opening of the new Panther Drive Bridge on Tuesday, marking a major milestone in the community’s ongoing infrastructure improvements.
Dozens of residents, local leaders, and dignitaries gathered under overcast skies for the ribbon-cutting celebration of the $3.5 million project. The bridge now creates a safe passage of Queen Creek during flooding events. The bridge now stands as a modern, safe, and vital connector for residents, emergency services, and school transportation.
Mayor Mila Besich shared a story about how important this bridge became to the leaders on the Town Council.
“It was a dark and unexpectedly stormy night when a local resident, Joseph Lopez, almost lost his life to a flash flood event. We are thankful that members of his family are here with us today. The outcome of his story was miraculous, and thanks to Superior ingenuity, he was okay! There have been countless potential mishaps over the years, and we could not be more thankful today to have this bridge complete,” she said.
“For years, the need for a safer, more reliable route connecting our community, especially our school and the fire department, has been needed. Today, thanks to the hard work of our engineers, contractors, and public officials, we are witnessing the realization of this important infrastructure improvement. This bridge is more than just a structure; it represents the ongoing growth, resilience, and commitment of our Superior leadership,” Besich continued.
The Panther Drive Bridge is especially significant because it was the first project completed under the renewed Greater Arizona Development Authority (GADA), a state program aimed at supporting public infrastructure in rural Arizona. Robin Romano, Chairwoman of the GADA Board, explained that this funding mechanism has not been available for almost two decades. She spoke about the need for financing and support for projects in rural Arizona that were needed.
Funding was secured with the support of Governor Katie Hobbs and Senator Wendy Rogers, who put the bridge project in her appropriations budget. Officials from Governor Hobbs’s office attended the event along with Sen. Rogers.
“This bridge is not about politics; this is about safety and improving emergency response times,” explained Senator Rogers. She explained that when she found out that she had extra money, her team showed her this project, and she immediately called the Town to get more information.
It was noted during the event that when there is a flood event, it adds up to six minutes to emergency response times. Those six minutes can often be a matter of life or death, especially during cardiac calls or significant accidents.
As attendees crossed the new span for the first time, a sense of pride rippled through the crowd. It was more than a celebration of steel and concrete — it was a celebration of community, resilience, and progress. The first cruise across the bridge was led by the Superior Fire Department with a fire truck and ambulance. They were followed by the Los Peligrosos Car Club with a dozen classic cars and lowrider cars. Members from the Superior Car Club, Golden Oldies Car Club, and Independent Riders also joined for the event.