Government officials have given the go ahead for Dorset County Council to buy land for the Weymouth Relief Road.

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.

Dorset County Council Leader Angus Campbell said: "This is great news that has brought us one step closer to building the long awaited Weymouth Relief Road.

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"Our final business case for the new road has been submitted to the Department for Transport and, if approved, work could start on constructing the road this winter."

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

Civil engineering contractors Skanska have set up the site compound in Littlemoor for archaeologists, who will be starting advance investigations on the Ridgeway at the beginning of October.

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

Subject to Department for Transport approval of the business case, contractors Skanska plan to start the large earthworks operation in Spring 2009.

(CD/NS)