It’s been 15 years in the planning stage, with the last two encompassing full-blown construction to include blasting away dams, shifting rocks, moving earth and installing a concrete wave shaper.

As of Friday morning at 10, the wait is over.

What has been billed as the longest stretch of urban whitewater in the world — 2.5 miles in length — will have its official grand opening with a few remarks by public officials, followed by a flow of yellow rubber rafts through the rapids.

Several hundred genuine whitewater enthusiasts, along with those new to the recreational activity, are expected to take a ride down the Chattahoochee River. Their ultimate target will be the waves known as “Heaven’s Gate” and “Cut Bait.”

But it’s also a fair bet that the long anticipated debut of the attraction, which cost $24.4 million in private and public money to transform into reality, will generate a wave of curious sightseers and plain-old gawkers to the downtown area.