STAUNTON –- The Sears Hill Bridge was reinstalled nearly two months ago after years of repairs. It's still not open to the public and now neighbors are asking why.

Even though the frame was installed about a month ago, the steps themselves aren't completed yet. The steps are waiting to be baked in an oven by a New England company.

“We're a little more dependent on a company that says, 'We'll do it for you for free, but you have to be able to be pushed back some if business comes along.' They're still very generous to be able to give us that. We hope to be soft opened within the month and have a big celebration in April,” said Becky Kohler, president of the Community Foundation Central Blue Ridge.

The bridge needed roughly $200,000 worth of work to restore it and that money is almost all spent. The plan is to keep collecting donations to put finishing touches on the area around the bridge.

A ribbon cutting celebration is scheduled for April 13th.

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