The relief around Bingley today is almost palpable. After a wait of more than 30 years, the contractors who will see the town's bypass through to completion in late 2003 are on site and underway.

For many of those who have suffered the misery of commuting down the A650 into Bradford through Bingley in the morning the excitement may be almost too much to bear.

If ever there was a town blighted by traffic, then Bingley is it. If ever there was a major transport route so inadequately catered for in the standard and scale of its provision, then this trunk road tops the list. If ever a road can be proved to have damaged the potential for business growth along its length, then the A650 is a clear winner.

Certainly, there will be disruption and there will be some environmental damage. But, sometimes, it is worth it and the vast majority of local residents clearly agree, despite the claims of a small minority of protesters.

But anyone who uses this route, or lives along it, knows that the eventual completion of Bingley Relief Road is only part of the story.

There can be no doubt that the town will benefit from an easing of congestion - but it is clear that much of it will simply be passed further down the valley to Saltaire and Shipley.

Now is the time to rejuvenate efforts to find a constructive solution to deal with that end of the problem. Bradford Council needs to start working now on a plan to ease the added pressure further down the route.

Bingley's joy must not be allowed to become Saltaire and Shipley's misery.