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LOOK: Operation Breakthrough Raises Bridge Across Kansas City's Troost Avenue

Operation Breakthrough, a decades-old Kansas City nonprofit that offerseducational support and other support services, installed a bridge spanning Kansas City's Troost Avenue over the weekend.

The bridge, built by Kansas City-based JE Dunn, connects the current Operation Breakthrough building with newly acquired space on the western side of Troost. The bridge will provide safe passage for the hundreds of children Operation Breakthrough serves every week.

Operation Breakthrough CEO Mary Esselman said the bridge serves both practical and symbolic need for Troost. 

"Sister Berta, [Operation Breakthrough co-founder], used to always say 'Troost represented the divide between poverty and prosperity.'" Esselman said. "For us to bridge that is symbolic for the community, but also important for us in that we will be able to serve more children." 

Operation Breakthrough, founded in 1971, has been in its current building since 1981.

The new building will provide space for a gymnasium, science discovery center, art center, as well as resources for adults at Operation Breakthrough. 

Sister Corita Bussanmas, co-founder of Operation Breakthrough, said the bridge was a major accomplishment. 

"This whole evening is a wonderful, wonderful dream, and I don't think I'm going to ever wake up," Bussanmas said. 

Click through the slideshow above for more moments from the ceremony. 

Rebekah Hange is an intern at KCUR. 

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