HUNDREDS of accidents and up to eight deaths are likely to have been prevented by the Dalton bypass - which celebrates its 25th anniversary today (Monday, December 17)

When the Department of Transport confirmed the opening day for Friday, December 17 in 1993, Dalton Mayor Cllr Brenda O'Connor said: "I am thrilled to bits about being asked to open the bypass. It is brilliant.

"The bypass can't come soon enough for Dalton."

She was assisted on the day in a joint ceremony with Barrow mayor Cllr Hazel Edwards and Cumbria County Council chairman Cllr Bob Strike.

The ceremony was fixed for the Elliscales Roundabout at 11am with police due to open the entire route to traffic from 1.30pm.

The Mail's front page on the big day featured a picture of the Dalton Mayor as the first few vehicles tried out the new bypass.

The report noted: "Half-a-century of campaign and protest finally bore fruit today when the Dalton bypass opened to traffic.

"The Department of Transport estimates up to 21,500 vehicles a day will be using the £7.9m road by early next century, relieving the notorious Dalton bottleneck and reducing the number of accidents.

"Over the next 30 years officials estimate there will be eight fewer deaths, 140 fewer major smashes and 436 fewer minor accidents than there would have been had the old Dalton route remained the only road into Barrow.

"The Government gave the go ahead for the bypass in 1973, but a public inquiry and years of tortuous negotiation over the route delayed a start until November 1991."

Speaking at the opening ceremony for the new road, Bob Wilson, a divisional director for Miller Engineering, said: "The co-operation and involvement of the community over the past two years have been tremendous.

"Every school has taken an active interest

"They have all visited the site and been made very welcome."

On the eve of the opening ceremony, a special feature in The Mail noted that 80 per cent of the workforce on the two-year project had been from Furness.

It said: "Between 400 and 500 different people have worked on the bypass since construction began, with around 200 people working together at any one time."

And within minutes of the bypass being opened, police warned motorists to take extra care on what was an unfamiliar route.

A spokesman said: "Particular care should be taken at the Melton Brow roundabout where drivers have become used to traffic passing straight through.

"People might forget that cars will now be coming out of different exists so they should drive with care."