NEW YORK - For residents of Bay Ridge, a view of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is a common sight, for drivers though, there is a view heading onto the bridge.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels announced it’s completed the rebuilding of two Staten Island bound lanes from the Gowanus Expressway approaching the upper level of the Verrazzano, a project meant to ease congestion during the busy afternoon rush.

“We drive the Verrazzano all the time heading over to Staten Island so any reduction in traffic would be great," one man told NY1.

The project was supposed to take six months, but it was completed in half the time because so many drivers had been staying home because of the coronavirus.

The MTA is comparing the speedy work to its efforts repairing the L train’s East River tunnel and renovating the 42nd street shuttle platforms beneath times square; projects that also were completed ahead of schedule.

“The contractor was able to take advantage of the low traffic volumes in the early spring, late spring and early summer in order to facilitate this work and work extended hours and weekends and was able to complete the work early and restore two lanes from the Gowanus to the upper level which would alleviate any traffic especially in the afternoon," said Aris Stathopoulus, the agency's deputy chief engineer.

According to the MTA, the $143 million project replaced the 1960s-era concrete deck and barrier to make the busy road more durable. It also replaced the lighting system with high-efficiency LED lights.

It's all an update drivers said was needed.

“Sometimes around rush hour when you see a lot of people going across you see them traveling and it backs up for a while and they’re stuck and they don’t get home. It’s an issue," one person said.

“Because you don’t want it to deteriorate or have any sort of issues in the future, so if they keep updating it every couple of years it’ll be running smoothly," said a woman.

Beyond these two lanes, there’s more work to be done. The next phase of the Verrazzano Bridge construction involves renovating these shoulder lanes, work that is underway now.