West Cumbrian bypass opening fully in February

The new stretch of A595 between Parton and Lillyhall, connecting West Cumbria and the towns of Whitehaven and Workington with the M6 motorway at Penrith via the A66, is now expected to be fully open next month.

The work began in January 2007 to create a new A596 junction at Lillyhall and build a new bypass to the west, around the villages of Distington, Common End and Howgate before rejoining the A595 north of Parton.

However, the new £40m bypass is now expected to be fully open in February as work is still continuing on the existing road north of the Tollbar roundabout and at the end of the new dual carriageway, where the road is currently a single lane entering the roundabout.

The wet summer slowed progress and the road completion date was put back.