The first cars have driven across the newly completed Milton Morris Bridge at Melville, with the road now open to traffic.
The construction gates were removed at 2.30pm on Tuesday, June 9, with some eager members of the public waiting in the wings to be among the first to cross.
The new concrete bridge, built 6.7 metres higher than the former flood-prone Melville Ford Bridge, is dual lane and has no weight limit.
There is also pedestrian access across the bridge, six sealed car parks and bench seating nearby created with timber from the old bridge.
At the official ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Paterson MP Meryl Swanson said the bridge would keep the community connected.
"It's going to create vehicular access and pedestrian access for people who want to travel across it, and also the businesses that rely on it, and our community," she said.
"I couldn't be prouder to be here today, it is a really critical part of our community infrastructure.
"There were some hiccups along the way and the very reason we needed the bridge to be better, because of flooding, was one of the impediments, but it's here, it's going to be open now and I know that our community will really warmly welcome this improved infrastructure."
The partially-built bridge was damaged during flooding in May and August 2025 as it was not yet anchored to abutments on either side of the river, causing damage to the bridge foundations.
NSW Roads Minister and Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison said it was important to not just replace the former flood-prone bridge, but improve it for flood resilience.
"This is an issue which has been a terrible area for fatalities because of flood waters over time, and for restricting access between community going from the northern parts of the Maitland local government area and the southern part where a lot of the businesses are located," she said.
"Speaking to council staff earlier today, they've advised me that actually on Thursday the water under the bridge would have gone over the top of the old bridge."
Maitland mayor Philip Penfold said the opening had been a long time coming and would ease congestion that built up at other river crossings while this one was under construction.
"It'll ease some traffic burden for the people of Maitland so we're very glad that council, state, federal are all able to come together to make that happen," he said.
The new bridge is an $8.2 million investment jointly funded by the NSW and federal governments with contributions from Maitland City Council.
Cr Penfold had the chance earlier on Tuesday to show two of Milton Morris' daughters, Colleen and Karen, the bridge named for their dad.
Mr Morris was a Maitland MP for 25 years and transport minister for 10 years.
He introduced the compulsory wearing of seatbelts, and the L and P plate system.
"Before the council made its determination to name this structure for Milton Morris it consulted with his children, it consulted with (his former electorate officer) Kay Sharp, and Milton was one who certainly didn't seek assets of significance to be named for him," Cr Penfold said.
"It would be difficult enough if he were here to get him to agree to a structure of this size to be named for him, but it's important that you don't let time too long pass before you name something appropriate for someone who was for 10 years the minister for transport."
Funding for the bridge project came from the NSW Regional Roads Fund ($2.5 million), the Fixing Country Bridges Program ($1.61 million), the Regional Roads Transport Recovery Package ($2.54 million) and $1.61 million from the council.
