A WALKWAY with cycle access linking Penarth with Cardiff Bay via the barrage and a new bridge is set to be given the go-ahead in the next few weeks.

The Welsh Development Agency is in the process of finalising an agreement with the preferred developer to spearhead a 250 million office and residential development scheme centred on the Roath Basin in Cardiff Bay.

This development will finally provide a through-route from Penarth to the bay via a new bridge over the historic Outer Lock which the developer will be committed to building.

The WDA say the new route could be open as early as 2008.

Penarth AM Lorraine Barrett said: "I hope it can be opened up and built as soon as possible because so many people in Penarth are so desperate to cycle to work.

"It would be a great opportunity for Penarth people going to the Bay, but we're also hoping to have a spin-off in the other direction."

At the moment it is not possible to walk from Penarth to Cardiff Bay because of a small area of working dock near the Norwegian Church.

The new bridge concept, designed by Studio Bednarski Ltd, has already been chosen by the WDA.

The bridge will carry pedestrians and cyclists from the Norwegian Church side of Roath Basin across the basin's outer lock to the south side which will link up to Penarth over the barrage.

The WDA's Paul Williams said: "The 24-metre lock is a listed structure and this was the critical factor that influenced the form of the winning bridge design."