Council highways bosses have laid bare the current state of the long-running Regent Road roadworks project after 13 months of misery for Manchester commuters.
The update sets out in detail exactly what work still remains to be done as the scheme finally draws to a conclusion.
The council hasn't committed to a end date after a series of setbacks - but said: "We're almost there."
The M.E.N. understands the contractors closed a lane on Regent Road approaching Manchester city centre on Tuesday morning during rush-hour, sparking fury from motorists and a rebuke from the council, who ordered it to be opened up again.
Long tailbacks however built again by the time cones were taken off the lane at around 9am.
The Regent Road works involve improvements at four specific junctions:
Works at the junctions of Dawson Street, Regent Road, Trinity Way and Water Street are said to be around 95 per cent complete.
All highways work has been completed at the site, but the council said workers were now completing 'last bits' of paving and traffic signal work.
It will require intermittent, off-peak only closures of short sections of lanes, but is said to be 'a matter of days rather than weeks' away for completion.
Work at the junctions of Regent Road and Ordsall Lane in Salford, and Regent Road and Oldfield Street in Salford, have ended.
The council meanwhile said work at the junction of the Mancunian Way, the A56 (Chester Road) and the A5607 roundabout in Manchester was around 90 per cent complete.
Lane closures on the Mancunian Way are due to be removed this week, which the council said was likely to have a 'positive impact'.
Works remaining include traffic signal ducts, signage, topping off footways and traffic signal installation.
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Lane closures on the circulatory lanes, on Chester Road and the slip roads are set to remain in place until its completed.
The council said: "We appreciate that this is taking longer than originally envisaged."
A spokesperson for the Manchester-Salford Inner Relief Road scheme said: "There has been a knock-on effect to the programme from this summer's extremely poor weather, the need to replace the main contractor midway through these works and other events outside our control.
"But we're almost there.
"Work to the highway itself is largely complete and now it's just a question of finishing touches which we will work through as quickly as possible."
Resurfacing work has now all been completed, meaning contractors are in the final stages of 'polishing off' the job.
But the exact completion date is still unknown.
The road was set to fully reopen by Tuesday, August 20, but that deadline was pushed back, following bad weather.
The project, which has involved the redesign of four junctions along Regent Road to improve traffic, is a joint venture between Manchester and Salford councils.
It has also involved the introduction of Toucan crossings, for those travelling by foot or bike.
The £15m scheme has caused widespread disruption for motorists since it began last summer.
Long queues of traffic have become a familiar sight.
And the project faced a major set-back in March this year, when former lead contractor Dawnus went into administration.
Workers downed tools in protest at not being paid, leaving diggers blocking the road during the chaos.
John Sisk &Son Ltd replaced them around two weeks later.
