The Republican-controlled Senate confirmed Neil Gorsuch’s appointment as the nation’s 113th Supreme Court justice on Friday following a fierce partisan confrontation.

The vote, almost entirely along party lines, was 54-45.

“We look forward to observing his good work in the years to come,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who changed longtime filibuster rules to push through the 49-year-old Colorado appeals-court judge.

“Together we were able to confirm a judge who will serve his country well.”

Gorsuch will restore the court’s conservative majority that existed before Reagan appointee Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016.

Democrats, who had opposed Gorsuch from the day President Trump nominated him in January, prepared to block him Thursday through a filibuster.

But Republicans invoked the “nuclear option,” reducing the number of votes needed to get him through the process from 60 to 51.

Three Democrats up for re-election in states that Trump won last year broke ranks to support Gorsuch — Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Donnelly of Indiana.

Senators and bystanders in the usually collegial body had to be asked to keep calm during the proceedings.

“Expressions of approval or disapproval are not allowed from the gallery,” Vice President Mike Pence reminded the chamber.

Gorsuch will be sworn in Monday and will be seated after the court returns from recess on April 17.

The cases awaiting the justices include a Missouri church’s claim that the state is stepping on its religious freedom. The case carries potential implications for vouchers to attend private, religious schools.

Other cases the court could soon decide to hear involve gun rights, voting rights and a Colorado baker’s refusal to design a cake for a same-sex couple’s wedding.

Arkansas’ intention to execute up to eight men over 10 days beginning April 17 also could land at the court in the form of last-minute pleas for reprieves.

By late spring or early summer, the court might be asked to consider Trump’s proposed ban on visitors from six majority Muslim countries.

As the newest justice, Gorsuch will also take over two duties performed by Justice Elena Kagan since 2010.

When the justices are alone in their conference room and someone knocks on the door, it is the junior member who answers.

He also will become the newest member of the court’s cafeteria committee, where replacing Kagan will be no mean feat.

Her tenure brought with it a frozen yogurt machine.

With Post Wire Services