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The Leith Bridge, by the Forsyth Barr Stadium, opens tomorrow, but barriers were removed for a short time yesterday afternoon.

Trying out the new Leith Bridge before its opening tomorrow are (from left) city councillor Kate Wilson, University of Otago deputy vice-chancellor for research and enterprise Prof Richard Blaikie and Mayor Dave Cull. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH

Mayor Dave Cull described the event as "a soft opening". He said it was good the bridge would be able to be used over the holiday period

He was pleased with the design, with its tower shaped like bicycle forks.

` I think it's actually a very elegant bridge - it's lovely, "

Mr Cull said the connection with the city - which was expected to run alongside the railway lines to the Dunedin Railway Station - was critical.

"We've still got disparate and disconnected parts of the network, and it will be a quantum leap in service when we actually get them connected."

Council transport group manager Richard Saunders said he was "really happy" to have the project completed by Christmas.

The bridge was "far better" than what had gone before, a route that ran under and around the road and rail bridges nearby.

"We're really hopeful it will be positively received by everybody."

Council infrastructure services and networks committee chairwoman Cr Kate Wilson said she was delighted to see the bridge completed before Christmas, as the public could use it over the holiday period.

The bridge cost about $1.4million. The NZ Transport Agency provided 66% of the funding, and the council the rest.

Work on an NZTA link between St Leonards and Port Chalmers is expected to begin next year, and to open in 2022.