The skepticism of a few of the members of the board of selectmen that the Speen Street Bridge would open last Friday was well-founded. The bridge, according to town engineer Mark Coviello, will be opened to traffic this Friday morning instead.

Still left to mark off the checklist: complete the landscaping, install fences and guardrails, install pavement markings, reset traffic control settings and remove detour signs, said Coviello.

Rep. David Linsky and Rep. Alice Peisch announced Tuesday that the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill to officially named the Speen Street Bridge as the Silvano Anthony Melchiorri Bridge, who served as a veteran, firefighter and fire captain, Town Meeting member, developer and musician in Natick. 'Sil,' as he was nicknamed, lived in Natick from 1923 until his death in January 2010.

“I am pleased that the House passed this bill so quickly," said Linsky. "I am hopeful that with the opening of the bridge in the coming weeks we can join together as a community to honor the great accomplishments of Sil Melchiorri."

The bridge was damaged by a storm in March 2010.