A new bridge, under construction for much of the past year, was opened Saturday.

Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender got help wielding his scissors from local politicians, transit representatives and builders as the Nicomekl Bridge opened Saturday.

The new Nicomekl Bridge was finished under budget, and the remaining funds may be used to upgrade more roads in Langley City. The news came as politicians, builders, and TransLink officials gathered to officially open the new bridge, which takes the Fraser Highway across the river just to the east of 208th Street.

Ironically, the ribbon cutting required closing the bridge and a mile-long stretch of highway to traffic, just a day after the last of the cones and pylons had been removed. City Mayor Peter Fassbender was happy with the bridge's completion. "We're ahead of time, we're under budget by about $1.1 million," he said. Fassbender said he hoped the funds would repave Fraser Highway, from the Langley Bypass to 56th Avenue.

Also present were Langley MP Mark Warawa, MLA Mary Polak, and representatives of TransLink and Tyam, the firm that build the new structure. The $9.1 million budget to create the new bridge came from the City, the province, and the federal government. Much of the cash was part of the federal infrastructure funding handed out by Ottawa in the wake of the recent recession. The five-lane bridge replaces a 40-year-old two-lane wooden bridge, which was vulnerable to high water during heavy winter rainfall.

The new bridge is arched to allow water to flow underneath even during flooding, and includes pedestrian walkways on both sides and bike lanes. A traffic signal was also installed at Old Yale Road.
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