Niles Daily News ran the caption the width of the page, announcing “McDONALD THE VILLAGE BEAUTIFUL.”

Under it was a subheading proclaiming , “A Big Engineering Task Is Nearing Completion With The New McDonald Viaduct.” And now today, the headlines could read the same way after more than 55 years.

The viaduct, which provides a direct route between Niles and McDonald, has been undergoing a massive renovation program, which will cost in the neighborhood of $1.2 million, for the past year. In that time, the entire superstructure of the bridge has been replaced. The work on the viaduct is now being completed almost to the day of the project finishing date, with a tentative ribbon cutting having been set by state officials for 10 a.m. Ed Ryser, Trumbull County Engineer, explained that the project involved using the original piers, abutments, foundation, and footings through some repair work on these had to be done. What was replaced was the superstructure of the viaduct, including the deck and wearing surface, Ryser said, adding that in the bridge’s superstructure,” we’ve simplified it

The bridge, which was rebuilt by the Soda Construction Co., is 933 long, is 40 feet over the Mahoning river, and averages 30 feet over the bend near the river.
Construction of the viaduct began in August of 1975. However, the smoothness of the operation in 1976 bears little resemblance to the events surrounding the original building of the structure in the early 1900’s.

In 1921 the relationship between Niles and McDonald was something less than it is today, and an article appearing in the Niles Daily News on Friday, December 2, 1921 read like a proposed trade agreement between nations separated by the Atlantic Ocean than cities divided by the meandering Mahoning River. The article appeared under an eight column headline on page one which read, Niles and McDonald to Co-Ordinate, which was followed by another in a box that asked “McDonald has done its share toward providing a direct route into Niles. What has Niles done towards getting a direct route from Niles into McDonald?”

The article contains an interview with James Freed, the first mayor of the village of McDonald, who explains that the viaduct is almost completed. McDonald has begun work on a road (McKinley Blvd.) from the village to the viaduct, but complains that the City of Niles has taken no action to extend the road or connect the two cities.
He said, In arranging to build this important link of highway between two cities, we did it with the wish of cordial relations, for no man or town desires to be isolated, but does like to consort with fellow men and sister cities. Niles in a business way has more opportunities to offer us than McDonald has to offer Niles. With proper bridge and road connection, it is natural that business should go Niles way, and see no reason why our field should not be legitimately cultivated by the Niles business men along trade extension lines.” However, the citizens of Niles repeatedly rejected the request for a road to be built through Russia Field on the north side of the river, which would connect the two downtown areas of the cities.

The bridge, however was completed in November of 1922, and the Niles Daily News ran the following description of the viaduct. “This bridge is 950 feet long and about 60 feet wide, with a wing of 950 feet of road approach on the Niles side and 1225 feet approach on the McDonald side. The fill on the north side is partially made, and one can by careful driving in a car negotiate the crossing of the bridge and wind up around a steep incline ‘till the top of the south hill is reached. There one has a fine view of the entire valley. One can see Niles, Girard, and the rolling land between these two towns, and also get a view down the river toward Youngstown. It is a sight that is entrancing and beautiful and speaks of the wonderful development of the Mahoning Valley within a ten mile stretch.
The viaduct, according to the newspaper articles, was built by the Lake Erie Construction Co. of Cleveland and the Walsh Construction Company, and the project was under supervision of W.E. Cook.

The cost of the building was between $400,000 and $500,000, which was paid for by Trumbull County, Weathersfield , the Village of McDonald and the Conneaut Land Company, which was the corporation which handled all of the real estate interests of the Carnegie Company.

The article also gave a colorful history of the site of the new bridge, relating the following description:
“The new bridge and the road leading to McDonald is not far from the old Indian camp at Salt Springs of the early days where a number of early history parleys between the Indians and the white settlers were held and where the killing of Chief George and Spotted John by Joseph McMahon and Richard Story, took place in 1800, after the Indians had abused the families of the slayers.” The description continued, “A profitable hour can be spent by one looking around the McDonald bridge site, and then on over the hills to the modern, up-to-date and beautiful new village of McDonald.”

Come August 5, Niles and McDonald residents will again have the opportunity to partake of this ‘beautiful sight.”