Ring road enters its final phase

The final stage to complete a long-awaited major transport project in Derby is about to begin.

Some 50 years after it was first proposed, the £36m inner ring road system - Connecting Derby - is nearing completion.

Connecting Derby is a government-funded project which aims to improve transport links in and around the city centre.

The next phase will be the construction of the road between Abbey Street and Osmaston Road.

'Torturous'

Derby City Council secured £27m of government funding in October to complete the work.

Project manager Dave Powner said the improvements will help ease congestion.

"There's obviously going to be some disruption during the works but at the end of the day it's going to be worth it.

"We're here to improve facilities for buses really. And we're going to give (traffic) an alternative route to the torturous route that they've got.

"It's going to be a busy road, there's no doubt about that", he added.

Mr Powner said it is hoped the project will finally be completed in 2010.