A new 6.5-mile stretch of the Saddle Road was dedicated and opened yesterday.

The new section of road is between the Mauna Kea Access Road and Mauna Kea State Park, and is part of a larger $59 million contract with Goodfellow Brothers Inc. to realign or rebuild 16 miles of the cross-island road from the 19-mile marker to the state park.

The Saddle Road was built in 1943, but does not meet modern design standards. It is one of the most dangerous roads in the state.

Plans for reconstructing the western portion of the road near Waimea are under way, with the entire 48-mile project to be completed within the next eight years.