The first stage of Colchester's long-awaited western by-pass is finally due to open today - 20 years after planners first came up with the idea.

The road will link Tollgate retail park with Essex Yeomanry Way and the A12 interchange.

Highways bosses say it will relieve jams on the congestion hotspot at Tollgate roundabout.

County Hall highways boss Norman Hume said: "This long-awaited opening of this new link for the people of Colchester is great news."

But the scheme has been plagued by delays and legal wrangles which forced work to grind to a halt.

The blueprint for the half-mile stretch of carriageway, which crosses the existing London Road, was first drawn up more two decades ago.

Work started in February 2005.

The road is due to opened this afternoon but there will be no fanfares or grand ceremony.

A county council spokesman said: "The new road will have a major effect but no ribbons are going to be cut or anything like that. It will just be a case of removing the barriers so the cars can use it."

Roads chiefs at County Hall also revealed that work on the second stage of the by-pass is set to start in the autumn. Phase two will link Tollgate to Warren Lane, by-passing Stanway completely and easing traffic on existing roads.

Once the whole by-pass is open traffic will be discouraged from using Tollgate Road and the top of Warren Lane.

The name for the new road - chosen by Gazette readers in a phone-in - will be announced soon.