The new A6 Dungiven to Drumahoe road will be open on Thursday afternoon, the Department for Infrastructure has announced.
This follows one of the longest-running road building projects in the history of Northern Ireland, with work having started on the scheme over four years ago.
It has now been completed and is set to open on Thursday once traffic cones are removed.
Read more: Imminent opening of new A6 road will make 'massive difference', says expert
A spokesperson for the Department for Infrastructure said: "The A6 Dungiven to Drumahoe scheme will open to traffic ahead of the Easter holiday period.
"The Road Safety Audit process has been completed and the contractor will commence the process of removing cones and temporary traffic management arrangements on the morning of Thursday 6 April 2023. The entire 25.5 kilometres of the road will be open for road users by Thursday afternoon with national speed limit in place."
The spokesperson continued: "This is great news for the 15,000 vehicles using the route each day and will bring long term benefits for road users and the local community in providing shorter, safer and more reliable journey times.
"This scheme along with the Randalstown to Castledawson scheme completed in 2021 represents an investment of around £440 million by the Department to upgrade the roads infrastructure between Derry and Belfast with approximately three quarters of the route now dual carriageway standard or better."
The Department also expressed thanks to contractors Sacyr, Wills Bros and Somague.
The news has been welcomed by East Derry MLA Caoimhe Archibald, who said: "This is positive news for Derry, Dungiven and the surrounding areas as we will finally see this road built and opened for use.
“Not only will this new road cut journey times between Belfast and Derry, it will improve the north west’s connection to other parts of the island."
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