One of Bermuda's tiniest beaches is set to disappear as part of a $1 million road safety project.

Franks Bay in Southampton, only sandy at low tides, will slip into the sea when a road-widening plan is finished next Spring.

But Government officials say it is essential to straighten the notorious Franks Bay bend on Middle Road, where a 21-year-old motorcyclist died in 1994 after hitting a pole.

The four-month project, already expected to cost up to $1 million, will begin on December 8 and cut through a swathe of land owned by local residents.

Planners insist the work, which has been scheduled for several years, will make the road much safer. A pedestrian sidewalk will also be built.

But the scheme will cause severe disruption on Middle Road, a busy commuter route, with temporary traffic lights directing motorists through a one-way contraflow system.

Several homeowners fought against giving up land but were handed compulsory purchase orders last week so work could begin.

One family, the Kasts, complained they were forced to hand over land their ancestors had lived on for hundreds of years.

Harry Bell Kast said his mother Nora, in her 70s, had lived at Franks Bay all her life.

He added: "Our lawyer is making an appointment with the senior engineer and we are trying to arrange meetings with the politicians.

"We know the road is not safe. But also, this is a very old part of Bermuda which hasn't changed for many, many years.

"Certain Bermuda families, including our own, have had property there since the late 1600s.

"Now we are losing about ten feet of land from one property which only has a front garden of about 25 feet anyway.

"We are even more concerned about the beach at Franks Bay which will totally disappear. It will basically be paved over.

"And if this leads to any further developments, the railway trail which runs nearby could practically become a parking lot.'' Mr. Kast said he was also fixing a meeting with his local MP, Tourism Minister David Dodwell.

But Ian MacLeod, Government's Principal Highways Engineer, said some of the beach might still be visible at low tides after the work was finished.

He also said making Middle Road safer was the most sensible option after a spate of accidents at the Franks Bay bend.

Chrys Richardson died in intensive care after coming off his bike at the spot in January, 1994. Cars have also overturned on the bend.

Mr. MacLeod said: "The road bends very sharply around the shape of the bay and there have been a lot of accidents there over the years.

"There is currently no sidewalk and vehicles joining the road have very poor visibility.

"It is not a safe area and over the years many people have been asking for improvements.

"That's why we have been negotiating with landowners for so long and we sent out the compulsory purchase order last week.'' He said the wider road would extend into the area of Franks Bay beach and a new wall would be built over the beach.

But he added: "It's not a case of paving over the sand. It's a very small beach anyway and inaccessible.

"Plus, it's possible that the sand will still be visible during some low tides.'' DANGEROUS CORNER -- Government plans to widen the road at this corner at Franks Bay, Southampton -- a frequent accident spot -- has local residents up in arms. The residents, some of whom have received compulsory purchase orders for their land from Government, say the plan will wipe out the beach (shown at right).

Graphic file name: CORNER