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It's been open for a while - but now it's official - the bridge over the Dunham River on the Great Northern Highway, 80 kilometres from Kununurra.
The opening on Friday marked the end to a $60 million Federal Government program to replace five low-level bridges on the Great Northern Highway through the Kimberley.
The new $26.4 million bridge is located 3.7 kilometres downstream from the old one and has been built to a higher level.
The 191-metre two-lane structure is linked to the existing highway by 6.8 kilometres of new road that is flatter and has fewer curves than the section it replaces.
The width of the new road is eight metres, wider than the old 6.2-metre seal.
Federal Member Barry Haase congratulated contractor John Holland on completing the bridge in just over 10 months.
Mr Haase said floodwaters had covered the old bridge about every second year for an average yearly closure period of about half a day.
In the 2003-04 wet season, flooding and subsequent damage closed the highway for three consecutive days and for a total of five days that year.
Mr Haase hopes that Kimberley tourism will be revived and new ventures encouraged now that the Great Northern Highway will stay open longer during the wet.
The next phase of road works designed to keep the highway open longer during the wet season can now begin.
"Upgrading the road across the Gogo floodplain, reconstruction and widening of 70 kilometres of highway in the Kimberley and planning for a Kununurra bypass are now key priorities for the government," Mr Haase said.
A large contingent from Main Roads, the contractors, Local Member Carol Martin and local dignitaries attended the opening and enjoyed a barbecue afterwards, produced with the culinary talents of town planner Keith Williams and Cr John Buchanan.
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