After 25 years it's done!

16 March 2011, 06:00 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Derby's inner ring road system will become complete on Wednesday (16 March) when Mercian Way is opened to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

The opening of Mercian Way signals the beginning of the end of the £36.2m Connecting Derby project that began in 2001. 
Now that Mercian Way is complete the remaining streetscape and resurfacing work will take place in the city centre.

After the opening motorists will be encouraged to use the inner ring road to navigate and enter the various areas of the city centre using a number of key entry points, details of these will be available at www.derby.gov.uk/connectingderby. 

Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment, Councillor Matthew Holmes said: "The opening of Mercian Way and completion of the inner ring road is a major milestone for Derby and its residents.
"Now the inner ring road is complete, residents and visitors to Derby will be able to navigate their way to the various areas of the city centre." I think it's far to say we have lived in the shadow of Nottingham for years, and Connecting Derby is just one thread of regeneration and investment that we are making in Derby to really show not just the East Midlands but the rest of the UK that we are open for business."The end has been long in coming and the Council are extremely appreciative of the patience shown by residents throughout the Connecting Derby project.  We would appreciate residents remaining as cooperative as they have been throughout the project during the final streetscape works taking place over the next month or two."