One of Northern Ireland's most congested road routes will reopen this week after almost two years of improvement work.

Belfast motorists will be able to access the new Broadway underpass from Friday morning, following a massive £104 million investment in the Westlink.

The completion of this phase opens the largest element of the scheme to traffic, however work will continue above the underpass, on Broadway junction.

M1 bound traffic, taking off from York Street, near Belfast docks, will now enjoy a 40 mile stretch of motorway free from any road works.

Traffic lights will be removed from Roden Street, where the central reservation no longer carries crossover traffic.

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Motorists travelling between the western end of Donegall Road, near the Royal Victoria Hospital, and the eastern end, towards Belfast City Hospital, should be able to pass through Broadway more quickly because of the removal of through-traffic.

On the underpass itself, only two lanes in each direction will be open to traffic initially, until all associated works are completed in coming months.

Upon this completion, the Westlink/M1 will consist of three lanes in each direction on an uninterrupted four-mile stretch of highway between Divis Street near the city centre and Black's Road in Dunmurry.

A Department for Regional Development spokesperson said: "It will improve strategic links between M1, M2 and M3 motorways."

Roads Service has claimed the Broadway underpass has been completed 13 months ahead of schedule. However, at the official launch of the scheme in January 2006, former Roads Minister Shaun Woodward said the work would last three years.

Work has therefore been completed six months early.

Many have warned of the potential bottleneck shift to York Street, where the M2 and M3 meet.

There are, however, long-term plans to build flyover junctions at that end.

(PR/JM)