The new Port Mann Bridge is now open to eight lanes of traffic.

Click here to view photos of the bridge opening by Christy Clark

The bridge opened at 8 a.m. on Saturday, with Premier Christy Clark riding the first regular transit service across the bridge in 25 years.

"As we officially open the Port Mann Bridge we are eliminating one of the worst traffic bottlenecks in British Columbia," said Clark, in a statement.

"After years of waiting, drivers get to enjoy a faster, more efficient commute and will have more time to spend with their family instead of sitting in an idling car."

Construction will continue on the Port Mann Bridge and along the Highway 1 corridor through 2013. Crews will keep working to complete the bridge to its full 10-lane capacity.

Meanwhile, More than 350,000 drivers have registered for electronic tolling on the new Port Mann Bridge, which expands to eight lanes Saturday morning.

For drivers who registered before the end of November, that means a credit of $30, equivalent to 20 free trips over the bridge. An additional three lanes of the new bridge open today, bringing the total to eight, or five more than the old bridge had. Once the original Port Mann is dismantled and the on-ramps finished in the spring of 2014, the last two lanes of the new bridge will open.

Tolls, $1.50 for cars, won’t take effect until next Saturday, said Greg Johnson, communications manager for the Transportation Investment Corporation, the company set up to run the Port Mann/Highway 1 Improvement Project. “We’re really, really happy with the response to registration,” Johnson said. “Having people register is a key to an efficient tolling system. The more people who are registered and have registered accounts and decals, the more it keeps our costs down.”

Johnson said the company hopes to have 400,000 drivers registered by Feb. 28. Drivers who register by then can lock in the introductory toll rate for a year. Otherwise, the tolls for cars doubles to $3 on March 1. A monthly pass for a car costs $75.

There are three ways to register for electronic tolling.

• Online at www.treo.ca.

• By phoning 604-516-8736.

• By going to one of two customer service centres. The Coquitlam Centre on the 2nd floor, 1500 Woolridge St., is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on holidays. The Surrey centre, at unit 102-14815 108th Ave., is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.