Thousands of pedestrians took to the Golden Ears Bridge Sunday to celebrate the opening of B.C.'s newest bridge, causing a major traffic jam before it even opens to traffic.

TransLink invited people to make history by taking a walk on the deck in the afternoon but police say the response was almost too good -- with more than 20,000 visitors turning out and overcrowding the bridge.

RCMP Cpl. Holly Marks a number of children became separated from their parents during the party and one visitor described the scene as "chaos."

The $800 million structure, which spans the Fraser River, linking Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows with Surrey and Langley, was shut down at least once in the afternoon because the deck was over capacity with foot traffic.

Police temporarily stopped shuttle service from the Colossus Theatre in Langley until people cleared off the deck.

Drew Snider, a spokesperson for TransLink, says a bridge opening doesn't happen everyday and sometimes things "don't go according to plan."

The Golden Ears Bridge is opening to traffic Tuesday -- a full two weeks ahead of schedule. The new structure will replace the Albion Ferry, which makes its last sailing July 31.

A gateway across the Fraser

Speaking in May, TransLink CEO Tom Predergast said the bridge, which is expected to save commuters up to 20 minutes in travel time, will help the economy on both sides of the Fraser River.

"The bridge will open on June 16, and I think it's going to be a tremendous asset to the region at large," Predergast said.

Construction on the six-lane bridge began in June 2006.

Use of the bridge will be free for 30 days, and then a toll will be imposed ranging from $2.50 for an unregistered motorcycle to $9.40 for an unregistered truck. Unregistered cars will be charged $3.90.

Related: Golden Ears Bridge tolls and fees

Pedestrians and cyclists won't have to pay the toll, and will have a lane on each end reserved. Public buses won't pay either.

Frequent users will be able to lease a transponder called a "Quick Pass," which will scan as vehicles cross through toll booths. Forty mounted cameras will watch all other motorists pass through, and they will be sent a bill in the mail.

TransLink is confident drivers won't be able to cheat the system.

"People want to try to do it, let 'em try," Predergast said. "But I think we'll catch up to them."

With files from The Canadian Press