By Brad Segall

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (CBS) — Good news for drivers in Central Bucks County: the much anticipated reopening of the Lower State Road Bridge, in Doylestown Township, will take place this afternoon after nearly a year of repair work.

The bridge that spans the Neshaminy Creek was shut down in early January because of structural problems.

That created a nightmare for the more than 13,000 drivers who use that bridge every day. They were forced to find alternate routes to get them to them to other key arteries in Bucks and Montgomery counties.

Doylestown Township supervisor Barbara Lyons says they’ve been waiting eagerly for this day:

“Without it being accessible for so long, our main artery 611 has been so congested, it takes 20 minutes to go from Warrington to Doylestown — on a good day.”

The construction sparked a little controversy in recent weeks when Lyons said it didn’t appear that any work was being done. A Penndot representative assured town officials the contractor would get the job done.  Lyons says they had only agreed to close the bridge entirely if the project could be finished within one year.