It took almost a year, but the wait is finally over. The newly renovated Leelanau County bridge is back open and businesses are beyond excited.

The Glen Lake Narrows Bridge in Glen Arbor opened to traffic early Saturday morning.

MDOT started work on the new bridge last winter.

Many shops and stores were very nervous about the construction and how it would impact business.

"It was dicey at first," says Mary Turak, Owner of The Yarn Shop in Glen Arbor.

But Turak says once people realized that businesses were open on both sides of the bridge, business improved.

And even more so now that traffic can flow freely again.

"It opened at 7:30 and we were slammed at nine with customers who didn't know we were here, and didn't want to drive all the way around to get here," says Terry Ormsbee, Owner of Melba Ann's, which just opened in June.

MDOT is still putting the finishing touches on the bridge, however it is back open to traffic.

9&10's Ryan Raiche and Photojournalist Jeremy Erickson have more on the opening.