A new 25-million-dollar bridge will be opened near Greymouth today.

Members of the public will be able to walk over the two lane Taramakau River bridge this afternoon, before it opens to vehicles at 4.30.

The old 132-year-old bridge will still cater for trains.

Grey District councillor Peter Haddock says it's a milestone day for the West Coast.

"There'd be thousands of people crossing every day especially in the tourist season and it's quite congested in the tourist season."