THE NORTHERN Approach Road has re-opened today.

The closure, designed to help provide a new link road into Colchester, caused traffic chaos.

However engineers have worked tirelessly to get it opened ten days ahead of the original six week target.

The northern section of the A134 between Mill Road and Boxted Road roundabout re-opened at 1.30pm.

Rodney Bass, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: "The reopening of this section of the Northern Approach Road brings the scheme closer to completion.

"I am pleased to see this section of the NAR scheme has finished ahead of time and on budget.

"It will bring significant benefits and contribute to the economic regeneration of the area.”

Eventually the road will connect to Axial Way and onto the A12.

This will help the construction of the Severalls Hospital redevelopment and its school and provide bus priority lanes for the Colchester Park and Ride.

The work, which started on September 22, was originally due to take six weeks.

Optimistic estimates then reduced this to three with it actually taking somewhere in between.

The early opening should also help relieve pressure on Ipswich Road with one way traffic along part of the stretch from the roundabout for the Ardleigh interchange to Severalls Lane from Monday.