WALTON Bridge is on target to open this summer, engineers working on the £32 million structure have confirmed.
The first bridge to be built across the Thames in more than 20 years is expected to open to traffic, pedestrians and cyclists by July.
The golden arches are already in place and concrete will poured today to create the reinforced road surface.
Surrey Highways said the bridge was so far under budget with more than £500,000 savings being made on the projected £32 million cost.
A further £8 million has already been slashed off the budget after Surrey County Council demanded constructors Costain cut costs.
Works include re-landscaping parkland at the bank of the bridge to improve access to the community as well as building new access roads.
Mark Borland, Surrey Highways group manager, said: "I think it has been a fantastic achievement. It has been 15 years in the planning so it took a long time to get here but once we started construction we've met the construction timetable so it has come on time.
"One of the proudest things is that it is really bringing it in under budget. Making that £8 million saving was a real achievement.
He added: "To do something of this size and this scale in a very busy community without closing the roads and without really inconveniencing residents and drivers has been one of the key achievements."
John Furey, cabinet member for transport and infrastructure at Surrey County Council, said the bridge will eradicate congestion at what has long been a traffic bottleneck.
"We know this has been a congestion point and something needed doing."
He added: "This is about giving to residents what has been long awaited. "It is always good to deliver something that people will make use of and this most certainly will be used."
The bridge, designed by Atkins, is due to be commissioned at the end of March before it opens in July. Mr Furey also announced a programme of events to celebrate the official opening.
Mr Furey said: "I think we are looking at somewhere between July 4-9 for having an official opening. We will have a calvacade of cruise boats, we will have vintage and veteran cars driving across to lead the hordes of cars coming from both sides. It's going to be brilliant."
The final finish date, including the removal of the old Walton Bridge and landscaping, is estimated for April 2014.
