Iron Station Neighborhood Celebrates Construction Of Permanent Path Home

IRON STATION, N.C. — People living in an Iron Station neighborhood no longer have to worry when leaving home thanks to a newly built bridge that has given residents a permanent path, that hopefully, won’t be washed away by the weather.

Nearly 30 families living on Amity Lane say before the construction of this new bridge, even the lightest of rains was enough to keep residents from driving in or out of the neighborhood.

In January of this year a big thunderstorm washed away part of the street on Amity Lane, including its only bridge. This made leaving and returning to the neighborhood a major challenge, since the only path home is on an unpaved road.

Residents say they are now thankful, as a West Virginia non-profit with experience building bridges around the country took notice. The Mennonite Disaster Service gathered volunteers to travel to Iron Station and build a 60-foot bridge over Reed Creek.

That bridge is complete and more than 20 families can now return home without having to worry. Volunteers and neighbors came together to celebrate with a bridge dedication.

“Just given a sense of peace. because every time rain was coming, we never knew if we were going to be able to get home or if we needed to park and walk,” Amity Lane resident Brandy Nichols said. “Now I never have to worry if it’s going to rain again and or how I’m going to get home each day.”

Officials say the bridge project was more than necessary, as it now makes travel possible for residents, but also any emergency services who may be called to cross the bridge.