You香蕉视频直播檇 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.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e been waiting ten years for this, so another ten minutes won香蕉视频直播檛 kill us,香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 fantastic, a long time coming,香蕉视频直播� said Harold Sleunwhite who has lived in Victoria for 36 years.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 come downtown often but when I do it香蕉视频直播檚 always this route. It will definitely help rush hour traffic.香蕉视频直播�

Sleunwhite offered a unique suggestion for what to do with the old Blue Bridge香蕉视频直播攅ven though it has new, offshore owners. He said, 香蕉视频直播淚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.香蕉视频直播�

Mayor Lisa Helps officiated the opening and thanked the long list of people involved香蕉视频直播攆rom the project manager to the builders.

Mayor Helps specifically thanked the Songhees nation elders who blessed the bridge, adding, 香蕉视频直播淚 wonder and worry about all the other bridges that haven香蕉视频直播檛 been blessed.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 100 years looking into the future and it香蕉视频直播檚 a really exciting day. This marks not only the completion of the bridge but Victoria香蕉视频直播檚 future,香蕉视频直播� Mayor Helps told Victoria News.

香蕉视频直播淭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 香蕉视频直播� like the fire hall and Crystal Pool香蕉视频直播� So it香蕉视频直播檚 a lesson learned and going forward we香蕉视频直播檙e taking a different approach to those projects which I think will fare very well.香蕉视频直播�

Jeremy Loveday was excited to see this project finally come to fruition. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a new chapter in the City香蕉视频直播檚 future. Say goodbye to the old Blue Bridge and the memories it holds, and say hello to this next chapter,香蕉视频直播� he told Victoria News.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 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.香蕉视频直播�

The public seemed very pleased with the outcome of the project 香蕉视频直播� over 100 million dollars and 10 years in the making.

As a group of tourists, unaware of the event香蕉视频直播檚 significance, headed down the side pathway of the structure, a local man excitedly corrected them, 香蕉视频直播淐香蕉视频直播檓on, man, don香蕉视频直播檛 you know there香蕉视频直播檚 a new bridge?香蕉视频直播�.

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, 香蕉视频直播楤ridging the Gap香蕉视频直播�, by Tim Collins starting

anna.james@vicnews.com