It took 626 days, but now the bridge connecting Bay St. Louis to the rest of the world has been restored.

Bay St. Louis is in Mississippi, about three quarters of the way between New Oreans and Biloxi. The 30 foot storm surge from Katrina (this part of the Gulf took a direct hit from the storm) wiped out the bridge and about half the homes in the town.

The town’s mayor, Eddie Favre, still lives in a trailer and conducts city business our of a former utility company building outside of town. He’s pledged to wear shorts, a Hawaiian shirt, and sneakers until his town is back on its feet.

Bay St. Louis was a popular seaside resort for New Orleanians.