Work has begun to create the £212 million Carlisle Southern Link Road.
The milestone was marked with a launch today with key stakeholders from Cumberland Council and the main contractor Galliford Try.
The new road will be 8km long and will connect Junction 42 of the M6 with the A595 at Newby West.
The road will include four new roundabouts, four new road bridges, a combined cycle and foot path on the northern side of the road with four new shared-use overbridges.
The project will unlock economic inclusive growth in Carlisle through the creation of jobs, attracting businesses to invest, reducing congestion, and creating the infrastructure to support the building of quality homes and community facilities.
Construction is anticipated to take at least two years with the road open to the public in the summer of 2025.
Councillor Denise Rollo, Cumberland Council’s executive member for sustainable, resilient and connected places, said: “Today marks a momentous and exciting step for the Carlisle Southern Link Road scheme.
“The project will vastly improve east to west connectivity as well as unlocking the delivery of the St Cuthbert’s Garden Village that will deliver 10,000 new homes over the next 30 years and bring employment opportunities and significant benefits to the city and the wider county.
“I was incredibly proud to be present to plant the very first of thousands of trees which will be planted along the new 8km road.”
John Stevenson, Carlisle MP, said: “The Southern Link Road demonstrates Government’s commitment to Carlisle. The £212 million investment into our city to improve our infrastructure, will ensure that the West of Carlisle has a direct route to the M6 without having to go through the city.
“I look forward to work beginning on this project that will improve road connections for thousands of my constituents. It will also improve access to the west of the county, better connecting Cumbria for residents and visitors.
“When I was first elected as Member of Parliament for Carlisle, I pledged to grow Carlisle. The Southern Link Road will enable the garden village which has the potential to create 10,000 new homes, new employment opportunities and community facilities for our city.”
David Lowery, managing director for Galliford Try, said: “We are incredibly proud to be delivering Carlisle Southern Link Road for a forward-thinking authority.
“Being able to work with Cumberland Council in a collaborative and integrated manner, which fully includes our partners, is incredibly important to us.
“As well as providing a scheme which creates significant improvement to connectivity and infrastructure within Cumbria, we will, together, create a positive legacy for the surrounding communities and ensure that economic growth and prosperity is supported through our activity.”
