DRIVERS couldn’t wait to get on the Weymouth Relief Road on a day described as a ‘momentous occasion’ for the town.

Eager motorists started queuing at its start up to an hour before the cones were finally lifted and drivers were given the go-ahead.

Roads around the area became so clogged that police had to turn vehicles away until the carriageway was ready.

It finally opened just before 3pm yesterday with no official launch ceremony but the sound of vehicle horns provided an impromptu fanfare as jubilant drivers, motorcycle riders and cyclists pressed forward led by police.

Traffic was reduced to a crawl as thousands of vehicles, including many road 'tourists' wanting to see the new carriageway for themselves, joined the new A354.

On the verges at the side of the new road it was a very British affair as residents turned up to witness the historic occasion.

Some brought chairs and sandwiches and took photographs.

Calls have been made to build a relief road for the area for more than 60 years.

After decades of campaigning the 3.75 mile carriageway from Manor Roundabout to the Ridgeway was finally given the go-ahead in 2008.

The £89 million project, which also includes a park and ride scheme, improvements to other roads, footpaths and cycleways is a Dorset County Council scheme built by Skanska.