Borough of Poole have today had approval for £14.141 million grant from the Department for Transport, to help fund the construction of Poole's much-needed second harbour crossing.

The appointment of a contractor will be finalised over the next few weeks and construction is expected to start on the Twin Sails Bridge early in the summer. The construction period will last for 20 months and the bridge will open to the public in early 2012.

Jim Bright, Strategic Director and Project Sponsor for the Twin Sails Regeneration, said: "I am delighted by this news. This has been a huge challenge for the council and has required a committed team of people, dedicating years of energy and enthusiasm, to realise this work. It has been a pleasure to lead such a creative and skilled team towards this achievement."

Plans for the Twin Sails Bridge project took a major step forward in July 2009 following the signing of a key agreement between Borough of Poole and landowners JJ Gallagher and Land Improvement Holdings. The agreement meant the council had secured the land required to deliver the second harbour crossing for Poole and regeneration of brown field land in the town.

Under the agreement, JJ Gallagher and Land Improvement Holdings will take responsibility for the construction of the new link road and footpaths connecting the Twin Sails Bridge to Blandford Road.

The Twin Sails Bridge project is funded from a range of public sector sources, as well as the £14.1 million grant from the Department for Transport, there is £9.96 million investment from the South West Regional Development Agency and Regional Infrastructure Fund.