SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The 6th Street bridge in downtown Sioux Falls is back open to traffic with a new look and more amenities for pedestrians.

Kylene Guse is one individual excited to have the bridge back open. She said she remembers when she first moved into her apartment off of 6th Street.

“I moved here not too long ago, about the beginning of summer, when they were still working on 6th Street,” Guse said. “I’ve been watching it all summer and then one day I looked, and they were finished.”

Now, cars can drive 6th Street without detours for the first time since the project started a year and a half ago.

When does the I-229 and Cliff Avenue project start?

“We’ve been seeing a lot of people out here down looking around and really excited just to have the project really at a completion point where it’s looking great,” 6th Street project manager Wes Philips said.

The multi-million-dollar project initially began after inspections pointed toward the bridge’s condition needing improvements. Project manager Wes Philips says the city completed upgrades under the initial 21 million dollar bid amount. He said the total cost for the project will be released later this Fall.

“We narrowed the lanes. The bridge used to be just four lanes of traffic, which were not really needed. So, we reduced that to two lanes,” Philips said. “That slows down the traffic, hopefully, makes it a little more inviting for people to come out and be around downtown.”

The flower beds, light pillars and convenience are other inviting reasons for people to take a walk across the bridge.

“It’s such a beautiful view and it’s a really quick walk then to Phillips from here. It’s a nice, beautiful walk. So, I think it’s really exciting for downtown,” Guse said.