For years, Roanokers have waited with anticipation for the new Franklin Road Bridge. But few have waited with the anticipation of Luke Waldrop.

"Oh yeah yeah yeah."

Thursday afternoon, the 95-year-old retired realestate salesman was smack in the middle of Frankin Road, at the foot of the brand new bridge "Just remembering that the day that I brought my mother down here," he said.

Waldrop grew up here, not two blocks away, during the great depression. In 1938, with a father who'd just passed and a mother in need of a distraction, Waldrop cooked up a plan.

"I thought it's a little something special"

He convinced his mom to be the first in line to drive across the old Franklin Road Bridge. "It was a thrill," Waldrop said with a laugh. It's a moment the lifelong Roanoker has cherished since.

So when his family heard that the new bridge was opening tomorrow, they made some calls, and cooked up a plan of their own.

"Here we go buddy."

Thursday, just after 4 in the afternoon, Luke Waldrop got to be the first to cross the new Franklin Road bridge. With his brother Steve in the driver's seat, his daughter-in-law Jamie in the back, a twinkle in his eye, Waldrop spanned the railroad tracks and the river before coming back to earth.

"Man I been out livin' it up," said the nonagenarian when he got to the other side.

When he drove away, Waldrop left with memories to last him another lifetime, and the knowledge that, even though she may not have been with him for this ride, somewhere, his mother is smiling down.

"It just a good feeling, and she would love me for doing it," Waldrop said.