The Pulaski Skyway reopened Saturday after years of construction and delays, two days earlier than the New Jersey Department of Transportation had announced.

The series of bridges that connect Newark and Jersey City across the Passaic and Hackensack rivers was closed in 2014 as part of a $1 billion rehabilitation project.

The reopening date had been delayed three times over the course of the project.

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The $1 billion project included replacing the deck, repainting the structure, rehabilitating the ramps, steel superstructure and substructure and improving drainage and lighting.

The 3.5-mile structure is expected to see 74,000 vehicles in both directions per day.

Vehicles heading to Tonnele Circle, Route 1 and 9 North and the Lincoln Tunnel must stay to the right to exit as part of the new traffic pattern. Motorists heading to Route 139 and the Holland Tunnel must use the left lane.

The Newark, Kearny and Broadway ramps are remaining closed for rehabilitation in future contracts.