THE £2.5million final piece of Blackburn's orbital route will open to Traffic on Friday - three months ahead of schedule.

The 400-yard stretch of road, which links Montague Street to Barbara Castle Way, is aimed at taking traffic away from Blackburn town centre and will create a ring road for the town for the first time.

The road has been funded by the government after Blackburn with Darwen Council persuaded officials it would be in the best interests of the town.

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, said the early finish was due to good weather and added: "We would like to thank people for their patience and support.

"This extension has a key part to play in the success of the orbital route and once in full use will make a dramatic difference to the residents, businesses and visitors in Blackburn. It will remove a lot of the traffic problems."

Two new junctions have been created as a result of the extension, one at Montague Street and one where Barbara Castle Way and Preston New Road meet. New lighting and signing has also been put up. Several buildings were knocked down to make way for the road.

Excavation work at the beginning of the project led to disused cellars, old water and gas pipes and old tramlines being unearthed.

The new road has also created several new plots of land which the council intends to market for high-quality office projects. A landscape scheme with 40 different species of tree and shrubs has been introduced along the length of the new route. In total, 2,000 new trees and shrubs have been planted.

Traffic wanting to travel from one side of town to the other will be directed on to a new orbital route made up of Barbara Castle Way, Montague Street, Preston New Road, Higher Audley Street, Lower Audley Street, Great Bolton Street, Eanam and Higher Eanam.