You害羞草研究所檇 think it was a rock concert.

Around noon, over 500 people anxiously waited for the Johnson Street Bridge in Victoria to officially open.

Members of the crowd had to be reminded to stand back, as they weaved around each other, straining their necks to capture a glimpse of the new bridge.

Construction on the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by the city began in May 2013.

The new bridge will support 30,000 crossings a day including vehicles, local transit, pedestrians, and cyclists.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been waiting ten years for this, so another ten minutes won害羞草研究所檛 kill us,害羞草研究所� said Amanda Shultz, who waited patiently among the crowd.

Food trucks, coffee stands, musicians and vintage cars lined the streets to entertain the revelers as they waited.

害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 fantastic, a long time coming,害羞草研究所� said Harold Sleunwhite who has lived in Victoria for 36 years.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 come downtown often but when I do it害羞草研究所檚 always this route. It will definitely help rush hour traffic.害羞草研究所�

Sleunwhite offered a unique suggestion for what to do with the old Blue Bridge害羞草研究所攅ven though it has new, offshore owners. He said, 害羞草研究所淚f they were to cut some pieces out of it and give it to a sculpture to make something decent, it would stand as a memory for a lifetime.害羞草研究所�

Mayor Lisa Helps officiated the opening and thanked the long list of people involved害羞草研究所攆rom the project manager to the builders.

Mayor Helps specifically thanked the Songhees nation elders who blessed the bridge, adding, 害羞草研究所淚 wonder and worry about all the other bridges that haven害羞草研究所檛 been blessed.害羞草研究所�

People cheered and clapped during the 90 seconds it took for the bridge to be lowered. Then, as a community, the crowd walked over the bridge, taking photos and marveling at the structure.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 100 years looking into the future and it害羞草研究所檚 a really exciting day. This marks not only the completion of the bridge but Victoria害羞草研究所檚 future,害羞草研究所� Mayor Helps told Victoria News.

害羞草研究所淭his bridge project got off to a bit of a rocky start and we brought it back under control. What we see now is a different way of doing current projects 害羞草研究所� like the fire hall and Crystal Pool害羞草研究所� So it害羞草研究所檚 a lesson learned and going forward we害羞草研究所檙e taking a different approach to those projects which I think will fare very well.害羞草研究所�

Jeremy Loveday was excited to see this project finally come to fruition. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a new chapter in the City害羞草研究所檚 future. Say goodbye to the old Blue Bridge and the memories it holds, and say hello to this next chapter,害羞草研究所� he told Victoria News.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 glad the local First Nations have played a role in opening this bridge and they have blessed it, and I look forward to moving forward with them in a good way.害羞草研究所�

The public seemed very pleased with the outcome of the project 害羞草研究所� over 100 million dollars and 10 years in the making.

As a group of tourists, unaware of the event害羞草研究所檚 significance, headed down the side pathway of the structure, a local man excitedly corrected them, 害羞草研究所淐害羞草研究所檓on, man, don害羞草研究所檛 you know there害羞草研究所檚 a new bridge?害羞草研究所�.

The community celebration will continue until 5 p.m. At 9 p.m. the bridge is expected to open to traffic.

Read our five-part series on the project, 害羞草研究所楤ridging the Gap害羞草研究所�, by Tim Collins starting

anna.james@vicnews.com