8:53am Saturday 8th March 2008
By Laura Kitching
THE coast route from Weymouth to Bridport is to benefit from a £1 million safety boost.
It comes as the government agreed to a £500,000 grant for road safety measures. It will be matched by Dorset County Council.
The council successfully applied to the Department for Transport for funding to improve the B1357 coast road.
Dorset County Council cabinet member for strategic planning and transport Coun Geoffrey Brierley said: "This is excellent news.
"The money will help us introduce much needed safety improvements along the road, which is a busy gateway to the Jurassic Coast.
"It should enhance the quality of life for people who live or work along the route and bring additional visitors into the area.
"The improvements will be sensitive to the area of outstanding natural beauty and be in line with our rural roads protocol, which focuses on local distinctiveness and limits unnecessary clutter on the roads."
The road is a main access route to the world heritage coast and is set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The main aim of the project is to reduce collisions by 40 per cent - saving distress to many families and over £1 million in economic costs per annum.
The route has a history of road collisions with 58 slight, 15 serious and five fatal between 2002 to 2007.
The project will use a greater number of non-traditional approaches that complement its special environment.
These include psychological and perceptual techniques, shared spaces, clutter reduction, education and landscaping.
As well as local people, the initiative will involve other groups, projects and partners.
These include local members, communities and businesses West Dorset District Council, Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty partnership, Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils, the police, Dorset Strategic Partnership, walkers, equestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and bus and freight operators.
The work will begin in 2009 and is expected to finish in 2010.
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