The first motorists began using the new Port Mann Bridge this morning as three eastbound lanes opened across the new span.
Tolls aren't yet being charged and won't be until sometime in December when it officially opens with eight lanes.
"Woo hooo!" tweeted Carmen Wright, one of the drivers who drove across Tuesday. "It's beautiful! To all who worked so hard on this – great job."
The partial opening is to shift traffic to allow construction on remaining elements of the project, such as the completion of the complex new Cape Horn interchange.
Highway 1 commuters experienced heavy delays Monday morning after overnight lane closures constricted traffic.
Project officials warn even worse delays are ahead before work is finished.
Westbound traffic will be cut to just one lane for the night of Saturday Sept. 22 and much of Sunday Sept. 23.
The last weekend of September will see Highway 1 traffic reduced to one lane in each direction from Friday evening to Sunday morning.
Long delays are expected and drivers are urged to avoid the highway and use alternate routes if they can.
For more construction delay details see www.pmh1project.com.