en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Carlisle Southern Link Road (CSLR), a 5-mile route with a final cost of £260 million, officially opened recently, connecting the M6 with the A595 and paving the way for the development of St Cuthbert's Garden Village.
The opening of the road, delivered by main contractor Galliford Try, is seen as a major milestone for transport, connectivity, and economic growth in the Cumberland area. The project connects Junction 42 of the M6 with the A595, aiming to ease traffic congestion within Carlisle and unlock areas like St Cuthbert's for development—a long-planned area that has only recently seen its first residential applications submitted.
Construction began in summer 2023, with an estimated cost of £225 million and an initial completion target of summer 2025. Delays were attributed to above-average rainfall. The route crosses two main railway lines as well as the Rivers Caldew and Petteril. The opening ceremony featured a ribbon-cutting at the Caldew crossing, followed by a tour of the new road for stakeholders and VIPs.
The total investment in the scheme is £259.4 million, with £246 million coming from Homes England. During construction, over one million cubic meters of material were moved, three major road bridges and six footbridges were built, four new roundabouts were delivered, and over 8.7 miles of walking, cycling, and wheelchair-accessible routes were created along the road.
Councillor Denise Rollo, Cumberland Council's Executive Member for Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places, said the opening of the Carlisle Southern Link Road is a truly historic moment for the Cumberland area, one of the most significant infrastructure projects delivered by the council, which will bring lasting change to how people travel, connect, and do business in the area, and is expected to ease congestion, improve journey times, and support future growth, including the development of St Cuthbert's Garden Village.
Pauline Schaffer, Director of Infrastructure Finance at Homes England, noted that the road's opening is a significant moment for transport in the area and enables the delivery of thousands of new homes at St Cuthbert's Garden Village. The company's £246 million investment in the scheme reflects its commitment to providing key infrastructure to unlock housing land and demonstrates how it can support local councils in achieving their long-term growth ambitions.
Glennan Blackmore, Managing Director of Infrastructure at Galliford Try, added that the official opening of the road is a proud moment for all involved, a true collaborative effort between Galliford Try, Cumberland Council, supply chain partners, and the many people who have worked on site over the past three years to bring this much-needed infrastructure to life.
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