MONTHS of motoring misery is set to end this weekend when work ends on Winchester's £862,000 Jewry Street improvement scheme.

The work, which began in June and has involved the closure of sections of the road, caused chaos this summer.

But Hampshire County Council has confirmed the final phase of the project, which has included extensive resurfacing work, will be finished by Sunday when the street will re-open.

"Obviously there has been some delays and disruption over the past few weeks, but the improvements to Jewry Street have provided a better environment for pedestrians and will bring great benefits to Winchester," said a council spokesman. "The road will be re-opened on Sunday, but people will still see some sign of the contractors on site while minor works are finished off to make sure everything is done to a high quality."

The council plans an official ceremony to mark the completion of the Jewry Street scheme, either towards the end of November or in December.

City centre manager Richard Nash welcomed the completion: "It is vitally important for the traders because the Christmas period accounts for about 40-50 per cent of their business overall during the year.

"It is reassuring the work will be completed this weekend and it will be nice to have Winchester clear for the Christmas period."

Communications giant NTL, which is laying fibre-optic cables along the North Walls area, is also expected to quit the city centre within the next week.

Meanwhile, the closure of St James Lane for repairs to a boundary wall has been postponed until Jewry Street is re-opened. St James Lane, which could be closed for more than five weeks, is an important route to King Alfred's College, the Royal Hampshire County Hospital and the prison.

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