SEVENTEEN years of campaigning finally reaps its reward tomorrow when the High and Low Newton bypass is opened on the A590.

It will mean a huge change of life for the nearby villagers who have put up with more than 15,000 vehicles a day running through their community.

The number will be cut to just a rural trickle at a stroke.

The new dual carriageway, from Ayside to Lindale Hill, will chop the journey between Barrow and the M6 by several minutes and organisations like Furness Enterprise says it will help towards regenerating the area.

The 2.3-mile bypass, which has cost £35.3m, is due to be opened at 11.15am by the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Archie Robertson, but with expected press interviews and final checks it could be mid-afternoon before regular traffic is switched from the old road to the new.

The ceremony can be viewed from the new Head House Lane bridge.

At 12.15pm there will be a celebratory buffet for villagers in the High Newton village hall paid for by road builders Laing O’Rourke.

On Saturday, the relieved villagers are due to hold a day-long celebration.