12/15/2012 St. Charles Mayor Donald DeWitte (right) shakes hands with Craig Surta, Architectural Cast Stone, after Surta had given the mayor the cement cast honoring the Red Gate Bridge during a ribbon cutting ceremony at St. Charles North High School on Saturday, December 15, 2012. Architectural Cast Stone out of West Chicago had completed precasts for the bridge. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media

12/15/2012 St. Charles Mayor Donald DeWitte (right) talks with old time friend John Collins of St. Charles, on the new Red Gate Bridge after the ribbon cutting ceremony near St. Charles North High School on Saturday, December 15, 2012. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media

12/15/2012 St. Charles Mayor Donald DeWitte and his wife Diane, exit a bus before the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Red Gate Bridge near St. Charles North High School on Saturday, December 15, 2012. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media

12/15/2012 St. Charles Residents wait on the new Red Gate Bridge before the ribbon cutting ceremony near St. Charles North High School on Saturday, December 15, 2012. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media

12/15/2012 St. Charles Mayor Donald DeWitte shakes hands with residents after the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Red Gate Bridge near St. Charles North High School on Saturday, December 15, 2012. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media

12/15/2012 St. Charles Mayor Donald DeWitte and his wife Diane, pose for a photograph after the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Red Gate Bridge near St. Charles North High School on Saturday, December 15, 2012. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media

12/15/2012 St. Charles Mayor Donald DeWitte speaks during a program before the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Red Gate Bridge at St. Charles North High School on Saturday, December 15, 2012. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media

12/15/2012 St. Charles Mayor Donald DeWitte speaks during a program before the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Red Gate Bridge at St. Charles North High School on Saturday, December 15, 2012. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media

12/15/2012 St. Charles Mayor Donald DeWitte (right) and Craig Surta, Architectural Cast Stone, hold up a cement cast that Surta had given the mayor the honoring the Red Gate Bridge during a ribbon cutting ceremony at St. Charles North High School on Saturday, December 15, 2012. Architectural Cast Stone out of West Chicago had completed precasts for the bridge. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media

12/15/2012 St. Charles St. Charles Alderman William Turner holds a cookie honoring the new Red Gate Bridge after a ribbon cutting ceremony at the bridge near St. Charles North High School on Saturday, December 15, 2012. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media

12/15/2012 St. Charles Mayor Donald DeWitte listens as Karen McConnaughay(not pictured), Senator Elect 33rd District, speaks during a program before the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Red Gate Bridge at St. Charles North High School on Saturday, December 15, 2012. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media

12/15/2012 St. Charles John Hoscheit, President Kane County Forest Preserve District, speaks during a program before the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Red Gate Bridge at St. Charles North High School on Saturday, December 15, 2012. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media

12/15/2012 St. Charles Karen McConnaughay, Senator Elect 33rd District, speaks while Mayor Donald DeWitte (right) listens during a program before the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Red Gate Bridge at St. Charles North High School on Saturday, December 15, 2012. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media

12/15/2012 St. Charles Mark Koenen, St. Charles Director of Public Works, speaks during a program before the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Red Gate Bridge at St. Charles North High School on Saturday, December 15, 2012. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media

12/15/2012 St. Charles Mayor Donald DeWitte (center) and city council members cut the ribbon officially announcing the opening of the new Red Gate Bridge near St. Charles North High School on Saturday, December 15, 2012. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media

12/15/2012 St. Charles Mayor Donald DeWitte (center) and city council members cut the ribbon officially announcing the opening of the new Red Gate Bridge near St. Charles North High School on Saturday, December 15, 2012. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media

An artist's rendering shows the pedestrian/bicycle bridge that is to extend beneath the vehicle platform for the Red Gate bridge on the north side of St. Charles. | Courtesy image~City of St. Charles.

The new Red Gate Road Bridge in St. Charles, as seen from the air. Courtesy City of St. Charles.