£225m Carlisle Southern Link Road on track for summer 2025 finish

Construction of a 124-tonne temporary bridge over River Caldew is enabling the next stage of work on the eight-kilometre road, which will itself enable the delivery of 10,000 homes at St Cuthbert’s Garden Village.

Main contractor Galliford Try Infrastructure started work on the Carlisle Southern Link Road in June for Cumberland Council. When complete in summer 2025, the road will connect Junction 42 of the M6 with A595 at Newby West.

Along its route, travellers will encounter four roundabouts, four road bridges, and four shared-use over bridges – as well as a combined cycle and footpath on the northern part of the road.

In the past six months, Galliford Try has been pouring foundations for the Durdar Road Bridge, installing piling platforms for the West Coast Mainline Railway Bridge, and finishing the crane pad and piling platform on the Petteril’s western side for the Petteril Bridge.

The temporary River Caldew bridge will get a permanent replacement in the coming months as part of the scheme. Having the temporary bridge in place now will enable contractors to work between the Cumbrian Coast Line Railway and the river.

Cumberland Council’s executive member for sustainable, resilient, and connected places, Cllr Denise Rollo, described the completion of the temporary bridge as “an important step” in the scheme.

“I’m incredibly proud to see the first major milestone which has been delivered safely and in a collaborative and integrated manner with all partners involved,” she said.

Funding for the link road comes largely from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities, which has committed £212m for the project. Cumberland Council will contribute £13.4m as well, soured from developer contributions.

Galliford Try secured the £136m contract for the link road in March.

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