Stainland Road at West Vale has only been used by Halifax-bound traffic since January last year, with Calderdale Council saying it would take around 60 weeks to repair.

The work has meant a two-and-a-half mile diversion around Elland for West Vale traffic.

The closure was forced by bridge repair work on Stainland Road at the Salterhebble end and disrupted traders as well as motorists.

Today, the road was being resurfaced, line markings will be put down tomorrow and any additional work will not interfere with traffic flow.

Dave Tee, Calderdale Council highways manager, said the authority thanked everyone for their patience while the essential work was carried out.

Keith Watson (Lib-Dem, Greetland and Stainland) said he was delighted and others like himself were fed-up of the lengthy diversion.

"The work won't be finished but the road will be," he said.

Margaret Kitson, of the Paper Shop, West Vale, was among those relieved normality would return.

"I will be glad to see it open again. We have lost a lot of trade from people coming back from Halifax," she said.

At Newbank Garden Centre, Stainland Road, assistant manager Colin Orson said the roadworks had been an inconvenience for many customers.

And while trade had not been too adversely affected he looked forward to welcoming more customers.

"We are coming up to our busiest time over the next couple of months," he said.

West Vale accountant Peter Broadley said it was a relief the road would be open both ways but criticised the lack of concern for those disrupted.

He said a similar project elsewhere would have involved workmen working around the clock to finish the job quicker.

"We all pay our taxes but there has been a total lack of appreciation for the inconvenience caused, and with a bit more money the job could have been completed much earlier," said Mr Broadley.