Spokane Mayor David Condon officially reopened the Havana Street bridge Wednesday morning, two years after it was shut down for an extensive rebuild.

Just in time for the Spokane Interstate Fair, the new Havana Street overpass opened with city and community leaders on hand for the dedication.

The $7.9 Million project, located just north of the Spokane Interstate Fair & Expo Center, began in 2010 and spans the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern-Santa Fe rail lines going in and out of Spokane.

The new bridge will help police and fire respond to calls easier because they don't have to use other overpasses. It will also ease commercial traffic.

"This bridge represents progress, it represents efficiency, it represents jobs, and I congratulate and thank everybody here today to help make it a reality," State Rep. Andy Billig said at the ceremony.

The bridge helps alleviate traffic congestion on Havana between Broadway and Trent, where drivers often found themselves waiting for trains to pass. It also includes a pedestrian and bicycle lane with a barrier from cars.