The Bingley Relief Road today won one of Britain's most prestigious architectural awards previously won by landmark projects including London's Tate Modern gallery.

The £47.9 million road, which opened shortly before last Christmas, has been given the Prime Minister's Better Public Building Award for 2004.

It is the first time a road has been given the honour with the judges declaring that it had made an "immense difference" to the quality of life for people in the previously traffic-choked town.

They were also impressed with the level of consultations between the contractors Amec and the public, which included exhibitions, neighbourhood forums and a website dedicated to the project.

The relief road was on a shortlist of 17 developments in line for the award which ranged from major projects like the redevelopment of London's Trafalgar Square to smaller scale schemes like public toilets in Brockenhurst, Hampshire.

The groups involved in the relief road's construction were the Highways Agency, and its on-site representative the Babtie Group, contractors Amec and design group Arup.

Judges said traffic congestion in Bingley town centre had been massively reduced since three mile long dual carriageway opened.

Announcing that it had won they said: "The A650 Bingley Relief Road had some tricky site conditions to negotiate and a history of local opposition.

"But aside from the technical skills displayed, it shows what an excellent job was done in terms of public consultation."

The award, now in its fourth year, was sponsored by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) and the Office of Government Commerce.

One of the judges Paul Finch, interim chairman of CABE, which champions better public buildings, said: "This is the first time that a civil engineering project, in this case a road scheme, has won the award, which we are delighted about.

"Good road schemes make an immense difference to the quality of life for motorists and town residents.

"The excellent design, construction approach and overall delivery of the Bingley Road cannot be underestimated."

David Dinsey, Bingley's town centre manager, said the award was yet another boost for Bingley.

Mr Dinsey said: "It's another excellent boost for the town and congratulations must go to contractors Amec for the build.

"I'm just pleased for the town that Bingley has been mentioned nationally again."

Keith Yardley, the former chairman of the now defunct Better Bingley Campaign which successfully campaigned for the relief road to be built, said: "I'm impressed with how it looks.

"I think people are grateful to the contractors Amec who were very flexible and listened to the public and were more than happy to discuss change with them."

Paul Watters, head of road policy at the AA Motoring Trust, said: "The A650 Bingley Relief Road shows that there are still road schemes around that gain public support because they remove the blight of traffic and let communities get on with their lives."

Earlier this year the road was also awarded the civil engineering excellence accolade by the Yorkshire division of the Institution of Civil Engineers.