With the snip of a scissors, the Louisiana Department of Transportation Development will officially open one side of the Interstate 10 Twin Span bridge Wednesday making it easier and safer for commuters and travelers to get across Lake Pontchartrain.

Boh Bros. Construction completed the westbound side of the bridge earlier this month.

The bridge, which costs, $803 million and is 5.5 miles long was started three years ago, after Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of the old eastbound Twin Span. The new bridge will be 21 feet higher than the old bridge making it less susceptible to high storm surge, which is what damaged the old bridge. Each new span will have three lanes as compared to two lanes on the old bridge, which will allow an increase in car traffic, plus eliminate the bottleneck effect when traffic enters or leaves the bridge. The new bridge is made up of 134-foot segments that are designed to last 100 years, because the DOTD is using a new type of high-performance concrete that is stronger, denser and less porous than normal concrete. The new concrete is also more resistant to salt water corrosion. The new span is also stronger thanks to engineering that will prevent the bridge from moving sideways.

Even though the westbound span is finished, DOTD spokesperson Sherry Dupre said it will be used for eastbound traffic until the eastbound span is finished sometime in 2011.

Beginning on Thursday, cars traveling east will get on the new eastbound span entrance ramp on the south shore. From there, they will be directed to cross over to the new westbound span, cross the lake and then cross over again to a second new eastbound ramp on the Northshore and then back onto I-10 east. In a week, after traffic signs and ramps have been re-configured, Slidell-to-New Orleans traffic will use the old eastbound span until the new Twin Span is totally finished.

Dupre said as soon as the old eastbound span has changed to westbound, crews will begin to dismantle the old westbound span permanently. The old eastbound lane will also be dismantled after the new Twin Span is completed in 2011. St. Tammany Parish has already signed agreements to use part of the old eastbound span as a fishing pier.

Taking down the old westbound span will be a relief to motorists. Parts of it have been cobbled together for the past four years with special sections that tend to shake and move.

Most of the St. Tammany Legislative Delegation will be at the ribbon-cutting July 8 as well as DOTD Secretary William Ankner. Scheduled to speak are state Senators A.G. Crow, Jack Donahue, J.P. Morell and state Rep. Kevin Pearson.

For more information on the new bridge go to www.twinspan.com.