WEYMOUTH could receive an ideal Christmas present with the final approval of its long-awaited £84 million relief road.

Dorset County Council has been overseeing extensive preparation work ahead of construction on the road, with progress stepping up a gear since the Government approved compulsory purchase orders for the road in September.

Six months of archaeological excavations of the area began in October, while work begins this week on a temporary diversion road to enable the construction of the Littlemoor Road bridge. The council now expects to hear from the Department of Transport by Christmas in relation to funding for the scheme, with South Dorset MP Jim Knight confident that approval will prove to be a formality.

He said he was making sure that the decision makers at Westminster were aware of the progress of the road as the Government examines in finer detail the council’s major business scheme case that was submitted in July.

Mr Knight said: “They are going through the final business case in detail so they can agree what the final figure is.

“There is a very good understanding in government that this is an important scheme for us locally, both economically and socially, but also that we need to be able to get on with it if we are going to have the road constructed in time for the Olympics.”

Mr Knight visited the site offices on Friday and spoke to project manager Matthew Piles and contractors Skanska. He said he was impressed by the progress being made and was particularly pleased to see local schools being involved with visits to the archaeological excavations.

Dorset County Council Leader Angus Campbell admitted that there was an element of risk in paying out to start work before the funding was officially confirmed, but claimed he was confident it would lead to savings in the long term.

He said: “Carrying out work now, ahead of final approval from the Department for Transport, will secure best value and avoid potential additional costs.”