It's open today!

The first vehicles were due to drive along the three-mile route at 11am to mark the completion of the mammoth £47.9 million project to divert traffic from the choked town centre.

Shipley Labour MP Chris Leslie was among the first to travel on the new dual-carriageway, after final safety checks were carried out early today.

The road was first suggested by the Department of Transport way back in 1968 after campaigns by residents to relieve the almost-constant traffic jams on the A650 through Bingley.

The scheme went through three public inquiries in 1975, 1990, and 1993 before permission for the road was finally given by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in July 1998.

The new road stretches from Crossflatts roundabout to a new roundabout by the Ramada Jarvis Bankfield Hotel in Cottingley.

"This is a great present for Bingley - and delivered before Christmas as promised," said Mr Leslie.

"I'm delighted that after a wait of nearly 40 years this scheme has finally been funded, built and opened. It's fantastic.

"It's a major investment in local transport for the whole of the district and it's taken a lot of hard work. It will both reduce congestion and revitalise Bingley.

"We need to capitalise on this investment and regenerate the town centre."

During the last week workers have been putting the final touches to the road, which included painting white lines and installing about 2,000 cats' eyes. Audits were also carried out to ensure the new A650 met required safety standards.

The road was also gritted last night as the temperature fell below zero.

Last week the Telegraph & Argus reported how the road would open in time for Christmas if the weather stayed dry.

An official dedication ceremony has been scheduled for Monday, January 12, 2004, when a Government minister is expected to attend.

Bradford Council leader Margaret Eaton said people in Bingley would be glad the road was finally open but she warned only time would tell what impact it would have on other parts of the Aire Valley.

"At long last it has opened as we were promised it would be in the autumn," she said.

"People in Bingley will be relieved and delighted that at last they should have a lot of the traffic moved away from the centre.

"But we will just have to see what effect it will have on Shipley and Saltaire as the road could mean extra traffic, which might also have an effect on the villages around Bingley."

Councillor Robin Owens (Con, Bingley) said it was the best thing to happen for Bingley.

"The timing is perfect with Christmas just days away. It's brilliant," he said.

"It's made my Christmas and I expect everyone's in Bingley.

"At last it's open for traffic and it's such a relief to see the road finished. It's a fantastic way for Bingley to move forward in the new year."

Better Bingley Campaign member and Bingley Civic Trust's acting secretary Eileen Sinclair said she hoped the road would be the key to unlock Bingley's £1 million regeneration.

"What Amec has achieved in just two and-a-half years is marvellous considering all the issues they had to tackle," she said.

"It's a real feat of engineering and they've done very well to get it done without the upheaval that people feared.

"The traffic has always got through the town, albeit slowly, but now we can look forward to seeing how Bingley benefits."

Amec's project manager Charly Clarkcrrt was given the civic trust's award this year in recognition of the progress made on the project.

When Amec was awarded the Highways Agency contract to build the road it promised it would deliver the project ahead of the March 2004 deadline.

Engineers have tackled a range of complex issues along the route, including having to build a jetty across the South Bog which is a site of special scientific interest.

It was a design-and-build scheme which meant each stage was designed as the work progressed to comply with conditions encountered along the way.

The road has been a engineering challenge with no fewer than 26 bridges or other structures, including a viaduct across the River Aire next to the Bankfield Hotel. There is also a major junction in the town centre at Ferncliffe Road to allow traffic to join it.