Government transport minister Tony McNulty says he was glad to finally see the end of Bradford's "road to nowhere."

Mr McNulty was in the city yesterday to open the long-awaited road link between the M606 and Staygate junction.

Changes to traffic plans in the city after the M606 was built meant the junction was never finished because it needed a huge junction at Nelson Street. The final stage of the project was finally started a year ago with the building of the new northbound link road between the M606 and Rooley Lane and pedestrian crossings.

Officially opening the route Mr Mcnulty admitted: "It has taken a while, but it is nice that the road to nowhere now goes somewhere.

"It is a very important gateway in and out of the city, I was very impressed by the manner of the construction. I know there have been one or two difficulties, but it will be a boost for Bradford. We recognise that a city like Bradford needs its lifeblood of transportation."

He also visited the nearby Manchester Road-Mayo Ave-nue junction which has just seen an extensive upgrade of its own.

The overall package of improvements cost £11 million and is a major part of South Bradford Integrated Transport Improvements Scheme which should reduce congestion and improve traffic flows through the city.

"This is a major upgrade on a strategic route which should bring improved transport links into a city which is in the early stages of significant city centre redevelopment," said Mr McNulty.

During his stay he went on to visit the £20 million Connect-ing the City road-improvement project which is preparing the way for the city centre Broadway shopping development scheme. Connecting the City is jointly funded by Bradford Council, the Department for Transport, the European Union and the local Regen 2000 Single Regener-ation Budget programme.

After viewing the Broadway plans he welcomed the decision to remove many of Bradford's uglier buildings.

"At the time these buildings will have served the city well," he said. "But it is only right and proper now that these come down, and it is proper too that old roads are redesigned."

He praised the forethought which will see the road layout redesigned ahead of building reconstruction, he said few other cities plan so far ahead.

"They are increasingly planning ahead, but something on this scale is fairly unique," he said. "I think by the time it is all finished Bradford will have a city centre that a city of this prestige deserves."