Significant disruption of bus services in Carlisle will begin next week as roadworks continue in the city.
English Street and Devonshire Street will be closed for at least eight weeks from Monday.
It means diversions will be in place and there is a predicted increase in congestion around the junction of Botchergate and The Crescent, which is operating at reduced capacity due to temporary traffic lights.
Stagecoach will terminate its 62 service at Long Sowerby instead of Morton Park to allow for the extra time needed for the diversion in both directions while the streets are closed. Passengers for Morton Park are advised to catch the 61 instead.
Stagecoach has apologised in advance to passengers affected by the disruption and advised people to leave extra time for journeys.
Tom Waterhouse, MD of Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire, said: ‘’We’re working hard to minimise the impact of the large number of simultaneous roadworks taking place in and around Carlisle which is causing increased levels of congestion around the city.
“From next week, unfortunately there is an increase in the scope of road closures in the city centre combined with additional closures and diversions to routes 300,400 & 600 in place for the closure of Newby West roundabout, plus ongoing use of temporary traffic lights at key junctions in the city centre.
“We’re working incredibly hard to minimise the disruption to our passengers and keep buses running on time.
Regrettably, to allow us to do this, we have had to take the difficult decision to terminate our 62 service at Long Sowerby. As soon as the roads reopen the services will revert back to their normal timetables.
“We will also continue to work in partnership with Cumberland Council to try and minimise any disruption caused by roadworks in the city.”
Affected services
Services 62, 64 & 69 will have to be diverted in both directions at all times because buses will be unable to use Victoria Viaduct in either direction due to the simultaneous closure of English Street and Devonshire Street.
It will also not be possible to serve the full route of service 62 in Morton Park. Services which would usually use Devonshire Street on Friday and Saturday evenings after 9pm when avoiding Botchergate will also be diverted at those times.
Service 62 will be on diversion in both directions and will additionally no longer be able to serve Morton Park due to the length of time required to navigate the diversions.
For the period of the work, with the exception of a small number of journeys before 8am, service 62 will terminate at Longsowerby (Waldegrave Road).
For passengers intending to travel beyond Longsowerby towards Morton Park, service 61 is an alternative.
The diversion taken by service 62 towards Longsowerby will remain as current, in addition when returning towards the city centre from Longsowerby service 62 will divert from Nelson Bridge via James Street, Crown Street and Botchergate, before rejoining the normal route on Lowther Street.
The bus stop at Club Britannia on Lowther Street can be used during this period. The temporary timetable for this period is available here.
Service 64 will be on diversion in both directions. Services towards Durdar will continue to use the current diversion. Services from Durdar towards the city centre will divert from Currock Street, via Crown Street and Botchergate before rejoining the normal route on Lowther Street.
The bus stop at Club Britannia on Lowther Street can be used during this period.
Service 69 will be on diversion in both directions. Services towards Holme Head will continue to use the current diversion. Services from Holme Head towards the City Centre will divert via Dalston Road, Shaddongate and Castle Way direct to West Tower Street.
No other city centre stops can be served other than West Tower Street/Market Hall in both directions.
Services which avoid Botchergate on Friday and Saturday after 9pm and would usually use Devonshire Street, will also be affected by this closure, which removes the usual diversion route during this period.
When heading towards Carlisle on service 61 (from Harraby), 63A (from Durranhaill), 67 (from Currock) & 104, buses will be unable to use Crown Street and will divert instead via Greystone Road and Warwick Road to access Lowther Street. These services will observe all stops on the diversion route.
On Friday and Saturday after 9pm, service 62 from Longsowerby towards Carlisle, will divert from the diversion route mentioned above in order to avoid Botchergate.
The diversion route from Nelson Bridge will be James Street, Crown Street, Botchergate/London Road, Brook Street/Greystone Road, Warwick Road to rejoin the route on Lowther Street. The service will observe all stops on the diversion route.
