IT might look like an ordinary road junction but this photograph from 1988 shows the final piece in Bolton’s roads jigsaw.

First mooted in 1950, the idea of an inner ring road which would enable the town centre to become more pedestrian friendly, finally was completed when this section of Topp Way linked to St Peter’s Way.

The picture shows Topp Way at its junction with St George’s Road with the new carriageway on the left having been opened to traffic for the first time.

The new road layout effectively created a box around the town centre taking through traffic away from the main shopping streets.

Initially there were a few teething troubles as motorists had to come to terms with the new layout and get used to the fact that many of their favourite car parking spots were either no longer available or accessible.

Among the developments which had run alongside the new road network was The Water Place, The Market Place and a new multi-storey car park next to the Octagon Theatre.