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The 190 metre long Stingray Creek Bridge opened for a community walk over on December 10.
Hundreds lined the road in Laurieton to step on to the bridge when it officially opened at 10am.
Pedestrians and people on push bikes, with prams, riding gophers tested the bridge.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council mayor Peter Besseling said the opening was a ‘historic occasion’.
It is the third traffic bridge over Stingray Creek, and Mr Besseling has labelled it as the ‘community’s bridge’.
“Thank you very much for being part of history,” he said.
Mr Besseling said it was wonderful to see so many community members walking and to hear so many different positive comments.
Stingray Creek Bridge opened to northbound traffic just after midday December 10 while both lanes will be opened from the end of February, 2017.
Since 2002 the state government has contributed $16.4 million towards the bridge project.
The Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has contributed $10.6 million, which includes an $8.6 million low interest loan.
Demolition of the old bridge will take around six months.
Jenny Kaberry crossed the bridge on December 10 and it was a historic day for her.
Ms Kaberry’s grandfather's brother was the engineer who designed the humpty back bridge that was opened in 1928.
Colleen Curtis posted on Facebook that she crossed ‘that old rickety wooden bridge’ in a pink old bus from Kendall station, while crying with fear.
“Who would believe I would be sitting at a table 60 years later watching the beautiful concrete safe bridge being opened on a iPad,” she said.
Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams, accompanied by Gary Randall from the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and Roads and Maritime Services regional manager John Alexander took a walk over the new Stingray Creek Bridge on December 9.
Mrs Williams said that from day one motorists will enjoy the benefits of the new bridge which is wider and safer than the existing bridge.
