Drivers can breathe easier: the John Street bridge is open again.

It is full speed ahead on the major local artery after four months of construction.

The 37-year-old bridge was abruptly shut down in April when road workers discovered extensive damage to the superstructure.

A crew patching potholes encountered a hole, two square metres in size, straight through to the Pomona Creek below.

Repairs to the bridge were already scheduled for this summer, but the severity of problems prompted an immediate road closure.

Ironically, it happened the same night as a meeting informing residents about plans for the pending summer closure.

Markham council was already set to vote on approving a tender for the summer repairs and quickly awarded a $650,000 contract to Marbridge Construction Ltd. to move forward immediately thereafter.

Buses were rerouted and detour routes were quickly established.

“We appreciate residents were inconvenienced during the reconstruction and thank everyone for their patience,” Mayor Frank Scarpitti said.

He touted the project coming in on time and on budget, hoping the new bridge will serve the community for many years.

Because of its location in the heart of Thornhill’s historic district, Heritage Markham consulted on the design of the new structure.

Landscaping will be capped off with a tree planting ceremony Tuesday at 2 p.m.