This afternoon as I crawled down Washington Avenue in rush hour traffic toward 35W, I got the sense that I was part of a long, eager and impatient line for the latest attraction at the amusement park. As the left turn arrow went green, I sped down the on-ramp and onto the new bridge. It may seem silly, but I found myself completely giddy--stomach in my throat. I let out a whoop and honked my horn--and flew over the Mississippi for the first time in over a year.

And, it's been a strange year of getting to know my city in a way I never had before. Living in NE Minneapolis, 35W takes you wherever you want to go, and quickly. Without it, I have needed to find alternative routes everywhere. Sometimes it's been a huge pain in the ass. Other times, when I've been content to take it slow and see it as a mini-adventure, it's been amazing. I've discovered parts of the city I never knew existed--as sad as that sounds. Winding through neighborhoods--sometimes lost, then found again--has given me a sense of proximity and orientation I've never had before. It's an understanding I'd totally missed zooming along the interstate from point A to point B.

I'm thrilled that 35W spans the river again. And, I'm thrilled to have a more intimate sense of my city, having wandered through her side streets.

And, yes, some of those alternative routes are now my chosen routes.