After over a year of construction and $8.5 million, the Saskatchewan Landing Bridge on Highway #4 is finally ready to be opened once again. 

Starting today both lanes on the bridge will be open, but crews will be cleaning up the bridge and motorists are advised to slow down and watch for workers. 

Steve Shaheen, a communications consultant with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, said that he feels the wait will be well worth it. 

"We often use the analogy of a home reno, he said. "Sometimes, once you get inside the walls, you discover things that maybe you didn't anticipate. This should serve the citizens of the southwest and the travelling public for many years in the future. You have almost a brand-new bridge now that the work has been completed." 

Shaheen added that construction on the bridge isn't done just yet, with some more set to begin later this month. 

"The navigational lights will be installed on the piers for boating traffic later this month. This is a new requirement from Transport Canada that will actually restrict some traffic again for about a week during the installation." 

The bridge will be restricted to 3.3m wide during the third or fourth week this month for the installation of the new lights.