SAN ANTONIO -- Nearly four years after construction started, a new elevated freeway ramp opened late Tuesday morning to motorists on the city's northwest side.

With the cut of a ribbon, drivers were allowed to begin using the Loop 410 West to Bandera Road North elevated ramp.

The ramp is expected to reduce the amount of time it takes residents to get from Leon Valley to San Antonio.

"It's about time, it's long overdue," said Victor Franke, a Leon Valley resident.

Kevin Whitchurch, general sales manager at Fiesta Dodge, said that he's glad the project was finished because at times work limited access to businesses in the area.

"It's been a pain for over three years now," Whitchurch said.

Leon Valley Mayor Chris Riley said the ramp will let people know they are in his community.

"Maybe you didn't know that before," Riley quipped.

The $75 million project includes ramps, lane expansions on Loop 410 and an updated traffic management system.

While Riley said the ramp is an improvement to traffic flow, some residents wonder if even more traffic is in store for Leon Valley.

"We can look at it as positive, and then, if there is a problem, we'll reassess it at that time," Riley said.

TxDOT officials said they were pleased with the project because it was on budget and on time.

An elevated ramp connecting Loop 410 East to Bandera Road South will open in a couple of weeks.