The City of Calgary has an early Christmas gift for Calgarians in the form of a new route to access one of the city’s premier attractions.

Following just about a year of traffic hassles, southeast commuters and businesses were all invited to take part in the festivities to open the new 12 Street S.E. Bridge.

The bridge boasts improved bike and pedestrian paths alongside wider lanes that will soon be open for vehicles to use.

Another nearby bridge, the Baines Bridge, and the Zoo Road has also been refurbished to allow for two-way traffic in the area.

Councillor Gian Carlo-Carra says the project has opened up possibilities for people in the area.

"You could get to Bridgeland in the past from here, but you wouldn’t be able to go back, so you’ll be able to do that as well. That connectivity is so essential to building a great urban series of neighbourhoods networked together.”

Earlier this year, the previous bridge was removed following some complicated work by a team of city workers.

The 100-year-old bridge was coated with lead paint and that led to a problem for workers who couldn’t allow the toxic material to fall into the Bow River.

Therefore, the decision was made to remove the bridge in one whole piece, using a crane.

After several days of delays, the bridge was finally removed.

People who attended the event on Saturday say the new bridge is a welcome change and are happy the old one is gone.

“It was so narrow and it was quite scary,” said one woman. “Now that the shortcut’s open, it’s nice.”

City crews also thought of flood mitigation when they came up with the new design.

“We’ve actually lifted the bridge up above the hundred-year flood elevation, so if it ever does flood in the future, there’s a clear pass from the community of Inglewood to get out,” said Michael Thompson with the city’s transportation department.

As for the old bridge, city officials say they are still working on cleaning off the hazardous lead paint so it can be incorporated into a future public art piece.

The new road and bridge will be open on Sunday and the two-way traffic route will be open in the spring once construction on the Memorial Drive overpass is complete.

(With files from Alesia Fieldberg)