The long awaited £46 million Dyfi Bridge has been opened after a three-year build.

The new bridge has been hailed as “brilliant news” that will drastically cut journey times and the area from flooding – something that is expected to be more common with climate change.

The bridge was opened by Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters MS with the contractors who built the project and was open to the public as of Friday afternoon (February 2).

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Mr Waters said the project put paid to the “myth” that Wales will no longer be building new roads.

“We’re still building roads. The idea that this is the end of road building is a myth,” said Mr Waters.

“We will always need new roads but we have raised the bar for when a new road is a solution to a transport problem. Previously whenever we had a bit of congestion or safety issues we built a new road and that is not consistent with what we are doing.

“We have to make a change and change is not often popular.

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“This is an example this bridge of the things we still need to do because it is about resilience to the weather and the climate.

"We know when it floods here it closes the road and we’re going to get more floods, more wild weather as a result of global warming and you have to have a strategy to cope with it.”

The minister was joined by pupils from Ysgol Bro Hyddgen who took part in bike ride across the new bridge to show off its active travel capabilities, which include a wide paved area for pedestrians and cyclists to encourage less car use.

County Times: Lee Waters MS presents a plaque to mark the opening of the new bridge.Lee Waters MS presents a plaque to mark the opening of the new bridge. (Image: Ruairi Walsh)

Councillor Pete Roberts hailed the completion of the bridge and said it would be transformational for the region.

“It is brilliant news for the area,” said Cllr Roberts.

“You’re seeing the end of 30 years of problems ending and it is good for the environment as well. Every journey avoided, every disruption we have here adds 10 miles of travel.

“I think you are seeing the importance for the resilience of the community here. It would be a 10 mile or roughly half an hour detour for those wanting to get across to the hospital.

"For anyone working in Machynlleth it is 20 minutes each way. This is a significant day for communities on both sides of the river.”