Brisbane's latest architectural icon - the $63 million Kurilpa Bridge - is now open.

The structure links Tank Street in the city to the Queensland Cultural Centre at Southbank.

Construction of the bridge began in October 2007 and is the first in the world to be built using a method that combines tension and compressed steel.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says it is a world-first.

"This bridge has been built using an engineering technique that balances tension and compression combiners," she said.

"It is light weight - but incredibly strong."

Ms Bligh says Kurilpa is a bridge for all Queenslanders - whether they live in Brisbane or visit the city regularly.

"It will be a bridge where people from around the country and around the world will come and have an opportunity to cross the beautiful Brisbane River."

The bridge attracted controversy during construction and concerns were raised in June that an oversized truck driving on the Riverside Expressway could hit the bridge, causing major damage.

Queensland Art Gallery director Tony Elwood has had a close-up view of the bridge and says it is a work of art.

"What's important is its confidence as a piece of design, that anything that takes a position that goes beyond something that's quite bland is going to generate debate," Mr Elwood said.

"But I'd much rather see Brisbane embracing ideas that are bold and confident than not, and I fully support it.

"I look at that and I can certainly fathom the idea of it referencing boat sails, and the sort of paraphernalia of the boat, or a series of boats.

"It's got a poetic quality that is evocative of the water, and of sails, and so on, so it's quite appropriate as a bridge I would have thought."