MOTORISTS’ joy when a new road was finally opened after nearly a year was short-lived when it was promptly closed again.

The £1.9 million slip road at the NEC was completed last July and was designed to ease traffic when big shows are on.

But it remained closed because Solihull Council said it was waiting for “special flashing signs” to be delivered from Germany.

The road was finally opened last Thursday, with standard non-flashing signs.

Workers on the business park on the NEC site were delighted, saying it brought to an end the months of sitting in traffic queues they had to endure when big shows were on.

But their happiness did not last long because the council shut the road again three days later.

A spokeswoman said they had only opened it to accommodate the extra traffic generated by Crufts.