WORK has finally been completed on a new Olympic cycleway in Weymouth.

The Granby Way cycleway, which includes a footpath and is known as the Wessex Route, is the first one to open before Olympic sailing events are held in the borough in 2012.

It is one of four lined up for the area as part of a Dorset County Council plan to promote the ‘green’ games and get people out of their cars.

The council has set aside £850,000 to fund the work and the Olympic Delivery Authority has committed £150,000.

County council head of highways Andy Ackerman said: “The four routes will enable visitors and residents to avoid congestion and to use more sustainable and healthy methods of transport.

“They will be part of the post-Olympic legacy for the borough and go towards completing a cycle network for Weymouth and Portland which will continue to be built upon after 2012.”

Work on the Wessex Route, which links the Radipole Lake cycleway with the one at Chickerell Link Road, took 13 weeks to complete.

The other cycle and footways proposed include the Eastern Route due to start spring 2010 linking Radipole Park Drive to Preston Beach Road via the Alexander Bridge, the Marsh Route due to start summer 2010 linking Budmouth Technology College to the Rodwell Trail, and the Redlands Route also due to start next summer which will run along Dorchester Road from Monmouth Avenue to Upwey rail station.

Transport director for the Olympic Delivery Authority Hugh Sumner said: “London 2012’s aim is for 100 per cent of spectators to get to the games using public transport, walking or cycling and Weymouth is no exception.

“This is why we are working together with the council to invest in permanent improvements to walking and cycling routes.”