Municipal officials with the rural municipality of Morris are relieved to the see that the Highway 23 bridge east of Morris is back in play.

The structure was re-opened to traffic this week after being closed for several months this year to allow for major rehabilitation work which included building a new deck and railings for the bridge and strengthening the girders and piers.

Reeve Ralph Groening called it a good news story for his ratepayers and for the regular travellers that use the structure on a daily basis.

Reeve Ralph Groening says the bridge is a vital link to points east and west in the RM and having it closed for several months was difficult.

"We want to acknowledge the efficient work of Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation and the contractors they hired who were effective and efficient, opening it ahead of schedule. Now we're back in business."

Groening was also quick to praise local ratepayers who have been inconvenienced by the construction work this year.

"The were as patient as one could expect people could be when their access to the rest of the community was handicapped," said Groening. "We had lots of discussion on the time frame for this project that would be most suitable for everybody, but in the end there was no such time frame, so we're just happy that it was done quickly."

Once upgrades to the approach roads to the bridge are completed next summer, the bridge will be higher near the dike so it will no longer be necessary to temporarily raise the road during larger floods.