Construction starts on £226m Carlisle Southern Link Road

Main contractor Galliford Try is building an eight-kilometre road to connect Junction 42 of the M6 with the A595 at Newby West – a project that Cumberland Council said will enable the delivery of 10,000 homes.

The Carlisle Southern Link Road scheme is robust, including four roundabouts, four road bridges, four shared-use overbridges, and a combined cycle and footpath.

Cumberland Council, which is leading the project, said that construction is expected to take two years. Over the course of that time, 10,000 trees will also be planted along the road.

The local authority is aiming to have the road open for public use during the summer 2025.

Galliford Try managing director David Lowery said that the company was “incredibly proud” to be working on the road project.

“Being able to work with Cumberland Council in a collaborative and integrated manner, which fully includes our partners, is incredibly important to us,” Lowery continued.

“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.”

The Carlisle Southern Link Road is seen as a key element in the delivery of the 10,000-home St Cuthbert’s Garden Village, situated on more than 3,000 acres of land south of Carlisle.

Reflecting on the link road, Cllr Denise Rollo, Cumberland Council’s executive member for sustainable, resilient, and connected places, said: “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.”

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities has contributed £212m for the project, while the council has committed a further £13.8m. Homes England is also assisting with the funding of the project.

John Stevenson MP for Carlisle 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.”

Pauline Schaffer, director for infrastructure funding at Homes England, added: “Infrastructure projects like this are a great example of how we can support ambitious local authorities to create new homes and places in their area.”

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

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