Weymouth relief road

Nearly 2,000 people attended public exhibitions at the beginning of October to view the route and have their questions answered by the project team and contractors Skanska.

Advance archaeological investigations are ongoing on the Ridgeway.

An area of 50,000 square metres is being excavated to ensure that anything of historical importance is recovered and recorded.

Work continues to finish the site compound in Littlemoor.

The Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government have given the council's compulsory purchase orders approval following a public inquiry, which ended in March.

The orders cover the 138 hectares needed for the new road between Weymouth and Dorchester, including designated land for nature conservation.

The scheme was granted planning permission on the 16 April 2007 and a Compulsory Purchase Order / Side Roads Order Inquiry was completed on the 11 March 2008.

The business case has been submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT), who will assess whether all statutory processes have been completed and that the scheme is still value for money before approving funding. The council expects to learn the decision of the DfT by the end of this year.

The relief road project aims to improve journey times and reduce congestion on the A354 between Weymouth and Dorchester by building a new single carriageway linking the A354 Manor Roundabout to the top of the Ridgeway Hill.

The relief road proposals also include improvements to the existing Littlemoor Road, between Preston and Littlemoor, the provision of a park and ride facility, creation of a nature conservation area, new pedestrian, cyclist and equestrian facilities and the removal of the existing A354 from the hairpin bend to the top of the Ridgeway Hill.

• Weymouth relief road latest press releases

• Where does the road go and when will it be built?

  The relief road is a single carriageway road linking the Manor Roundabout to the top of Ridgeway Hill.

• Why a new road?

  The road will improve access to Weymouth and Portland and improve the reliability of journey times on the A354 between Weymouth and Dorchester.

• The Weymouth Relief Road Compulsory Purchase Order and Side Roads Order 2007

  This page displays all of the information on the public inquiry and proposed orders.

• Environmental Statement

  The Environmental Statement reports on the likely environmental impacts of the scheme and outlines the main alternatives considered, with an indication of the reasons for the choices made.

• Weymouth relief road major scheme business case

  Dorset County Council has submitted the major scheme business case for the Weymouth relief road.

• Weymouth Relief Road Project Manager
  Name: Matthew Piles
  Email: ltpimprovements@dorsetcc.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 224394
  Fax: 01305 224498
  Full details for Matthew Piles