IT is now one of the main arteries which keeps Bolton moving. The A666 St Peter’s Way is something so many of us travel along today as part of our daily routine, handily connecting the town to the motorway network.

These pictures from the Bolton News archive give an indication as to what a major construction project it was to bring the inner relief road to fruition.

This was engineering on a massive scale with the River Croal having to be redirected, substantial bridgeworks erected and tons of material excavated.

When the inner relief road was ready for traffic in December 1971 it had cost more than £3 million - the equivalent of more than £40 million today.