MOTORISTS in Bolton were today celebrating news they have waited five years to hear -- the end of work on St Peter's Way.

Maintenance work along the troubled route into Bolton was expected to end officially today, 10 days ahead of schedule.

The news, just in time for Christmas, will bring to an end five years of misery for motorists who have suffered from long queues, lane closures and temporary lights.

And Bolton Council's highways chiefs say bridges along the route will be safe for another 30 years. No further work projects are planned in the future.

Councillor Guy Harkin, Bolton Council's executive member for the environment and economic development, said: "We appreciate that motorists have had a lot to put up with over the past five years while this work has been going on.

"We now have the bridges along our main arterial route into Bolton protected and strengthened to last another 30 years, and that can only be good news for the people of Bolton."

The latest work by local contractor A E Yates of Horwich on Folds Road Bridge ended today.

The five-year programme to strengthen bridges, subways and repair retaining walls along St Peter's Way began in 1996 with Folds Road Bridge. The scheme cost of £6.2 million.

Virtually all the structures along the Farnworth/ Kearsley By-pass and St Peter's Way, constructed 30 years ago, have received treatment since then.

Work has included concrete repairs, bridge deck waterproofing, new bridge parapets and safety fences and painting of steel bridge beams.

There has also been work to improve safety for people using subways along the route. Internal walls have been painted with bright anti-graffiti paint and entrances have benefited from extensive landscaping.

Cllr Harkin added: "The rate of deterioration of these structures has been accelerating to such an extent that if we hadn't carried out the repairs now the work would have taken much longer and would have cost far more."

"We are pleased we have been able to finish ahead of schedule and it is good news for Bolton's retailers and Christmas shoppers as it will allow unrestricted traffic into Bolton along St Peter's Way in the busy lead up to Christmas."