Anyone who ever traversed the old Kosciuszko Bridge knew it as one of the most aggravating roadways in the city.

"This was a legendary bottleneck,” Governor Cuomo said Tuesday.

But as of this week, that will be a memory. With the opening of its second and final span, the new bridge will carry nine lanes of traffic instead of six. It also boasts wider lanes than the old bridge, a bike and pedestrian path, and a lower incline, which will help speed traffic.

"It's estimated that this bridge will reduce traffic delays by 65 percent,” Cuomo said during a walkthrough of the bridge. “And for people who use this bridge, that is a very big deal."

Cuomo says the project came in on budget—at $873 million—and four years ahead of schedule, thanks to a so-called design-build process that accelerated construction. Following a largely ceremonial opening Wednesday— complete with an LED light show set to music—the second span opens to traffic early Thursday morning.

Cuomo recounted his personal experiences with the old bridge, which could get slick with rain.

"It was dangerous, and it was frightening. I remember the first time I went over it in a motorcycle. Talk about holding your breath,” he said. “I calculated it roughly: I spent about a year of my life on this bridge in traffic."

Officials also say a seven-acre space underneath the bridge on the Brooklyn side will be turned into a public space and park, with the help of $7 million from the state. The space will usable by next summer.