A LONG-AWAITED third route out of Ingleby Barwick was officially opened yesterday.

The £10m first section of the South Stockton Link Road connects Lowfields Avenue, Ingleby Barwick, with Bowesfield and Preston Farm Industrial Estate, Stockton.

It will relieve traffic pressure on Thornaby Road, Thornaby, and once completely opened in 2006, allow significant improvements in air quality.

The next phases will be the conversion of Concorde Way, at Preston Farm Industrial Estate, to a dual-carriageway, due to begin next month, followed by a connection with Myton Way, Ingleby Barwick, by September next year.

A major intersection will link with the A66 and Stockton town centre by 2006. The total cost is £31m. A new network of cycleways has also been built, separated from the road and linking with existing routes in Ingleby Barwick, Thornaby and Bowesfield.

Councillor Bob Cook, Stockton Borough Council's cabinet member for regeneration and development, said: "There is no doubt that this link will help make it easier for people travelling in and out of Ingleby Barwick.

"It is still only the first stage, however. The full benefits will only be felt once the final stages are complete."

The new road has a 50mph speed limit throughout its length and opens up new views of the River Tees.

Landscaping and planting will continue along the verges over the next winter planting season. Future plans include a priority lane for buses and a bus green route between Ingleby Barwick and Thornaby.

The bridge and road, which have been named Queen Elizabeth Way and Jubilee Bridge by local schoolchildren, were opened by MP Dari Taylor and the Mayor of Stockton, Councillor Jean O'Donnell.

Ms Taylor said: "This tremendous feat of engineering will be of great benefit to the people of Ingleby Barwick who have previously suffered from poor transport links and all the problems of traffic congestion and air pollution which that creates.

"This link road is the first stage of a transport plan that will help address this situation."