BULLHEAD CITY – Laughlin town founder Don Laughlin was the key figure in proposing and funding construction ago of the bridge that spans the Colorado River, linking Bullhead City with the town of Laughlin, near Laughlin’s Riverside Resort Hotel and Casino. City manager Toby Cotter told council members Jan. 5 that the bridge that opened to traffic in 1987 was never formally named, and is actually known as “B-1847”.
Cotter urged council members to work to name the bridge in Laughlin’s honor before any discussion begins with regard to naming the second bridge over the river that’s expected to go out to bid this year for construction. Member Mark Clark’s on board.
“I think everybody calls it the Laughlin Bridge. I even thought it was the Laughlin Bridge for a long, long time,” Clark said. “So, I think this is a great idea to officially name it the Laughlin Bridge. Everybody knows it that way anyway.”
Mayor Tom Brady well remembers how hard Laughlin and his team, led by the late Ozzie Osborn, fought through bureaucratic red tape to get the important structure approved and built.
“They were able to construct the bridge for the benefit of our community, which provided us with another means to cross the river besides either by ferryboat or going across the dam,” Brady said. “It was probably one of the best things that happened to bring our two communities together. I can’t think of any better way to honor Don Laughlin that naming the bridge after him.”
The council approved a resolution urging the Nevada Department of Transportation and Clark County to name the bridge after Laughlin. Cotter said that’s because the bridge is technically owned by Nevada, for accepting maintenance responsibility.
Cotter said it’s important to get the first bridge named before the next one is built, and branded, so both structures can have different identities.
Dave Hawkins
