After months of patience and hard work, the newly twinned Highway 39 East has finally reopened to full traffic.

This has been enthusiastically hailed by the leadership in southeast Saskatchewan, and Mayor Roy Ludwig was quick to express his sentiments.

"We're happy about that. It's a very busy roadway, and it'll be a lot safer for our people and all the people traveling into Estevan and back out of our community. We'd like to thank the federal government for all the money that they put in, the provincial government as well, and Panteluk Construction."

He also expounded on the fact that it was a local company who was awarded the tender and completed the major work on the project.

"We were proud that they won the bid, and we always are encouraged whenever we have work available. Usually our local people get it, and that's the way it should be."

Provincial MLA Lori Carr was also happy about the milestone.

"It's exciting to see that it's finally open. It's been a couple of years in process, and people have been very patient, so I thank them for that. With the opening of the twinning between Bienfait and Estevan it should help with safety along that route. Naturally, it will take some time for our residents to transition to the new roadway and kind of get used to what maybe wasn't there before. However, in the end it should be safer, and that is definitely our goal."

Last, but not least, the MP for Souris Moose Mountain, Dr. Robert Kitchen was no less glad to praise the occasion.

"It's tremendous that it's finally completed. That is a major trade corridor from the U.S. into Canada, and this road is utilized. I congratulate the work they have done, it's a tremendous piece of highway."

He added that he hopes the governments will look into furthering the initiative in the future.