(BOONVILLE, Mo., AP) — Hundreds of people from Boonville and beyond have gathered at a former railroad bridge to celebrate its resurrection as part of a state park.

The Columbia Daily Tribune (http://bit.ly/1Vq2DYV ) reports that Boonville Mayor Julie Thacher, Columbia Mayor Darwin Hindman and Gov. Jay Nixon participated in the short ceremony Saturday at Katy Trail State Park.

The celebration recognized the first phase of the MKT Railroad bridge rehabilitation, which cost about $900,000 with a combination of city revenue, federal block grant funds and private donations. Visitors can now walk about a third of the way across the Missouri River for up- and downstream views, as well as a close-up look of the lift span.

Katy Bridge Coalition executive director Paula Shannon says a similar walkway will be built on the Howard County side and the bridge will eventually lift.

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Information from: Columbia Daily Tribune, http://www.columbiatribune.com