A new £25.8million road to Barry and Cardiff Airport has now officially opened.

Work on the A4226 between Sycamore Cross and the A48 and the Weycock Cross roundabout in Barry – known locally as Five Mile Lane – has now been completed.

The new road bypasses the winding central section of the old Five Mile Lane, has improved drainage and offers a more direct route between the A48 in the north to the town of Barry on the coast.

A new foot and cycleway has been built along with a bridleway and bridge which will provide a safe crossing for horse riders, and a 60mph limit has also been introduced from Sycamore Cross to the Welsh Hawking Centre.

Welsh Government and Vale of Glamorgan Council said the new road will be safer than the old Five Mile Lane – which was an accident blackspot – and will lead to shorter journey times.

Ken Skates, Welsh Government Minister for Economy and Transport, said: "The road will go a long way to improving connectivity to the airport and enterprise zones and also improving road safety.

"This is a huge step to improving connectivity to the airport."

The new cycleway and footway runs from Weycock roundabout up to the layby on the western side, and then via the old Five Mile lane which is being closed to vehicular traffic at either end.

Then the new cycleway and footway runs from Blackland Farm up to Sycamore Cross, again on the western side.

The bridleway runs northwards on the western side of the new road over a new bridge at Sutton Farm before continuing on the eastern side of the new road up to the side road near Northcliffe Cottage.

Parts of the old Five Mile Lane will remain open to provide access to Duffryn, Moulton and Walterston and would be accessed by three junctions on the new road.

Ccouncillor Lis Burnett, Vale of Glamorgan Council deputy leader, said: "The new road is absolutely vital in terms of access to Barry and the A48 and in terms of safety.

"Along with that is the huge economic value in terms of construction spend and future economic benefits for Barry and the enterprise zones."