Construction of the Carlisle Southern Link Road in the UK has officially begun with Galliford Try as the contractor. This is a £140 million project aimed at improving connectivity and supporting the development of St Cuthbert’s Garden Village in Carlisle.
The 8-kilometre link road will connect junction 42 of the M6 with the A595 at Newby West. Thus it will provide a direct route and bypass the need to pass through the city centre.
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The construction will involve the creation of four new roundabouts, four road bridges. Furthermore, there will be a combined cycle and footpath on the northern side of the road, complete with four shared-use overbridges.
Cumbria County Council faced challenges in initiating the construction due to various issues. Previously, Morgan Sindall was awarded a £65 million enabling deal for the project, with expectations of securing the £75 million main construction contract.
However, the council put the construction on hold due to escalating inflation, which pushed the estimated cost to £150 million.
Cost of Carlisle Southern Link Road project in the UK
In August, a new procurement process was launched. Galliford Try was ultimately awarded the main construction contract valued at £140 million in March of this year.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities contributed £212 million to fund the project. Additionally, there was £13.8 million allocated by Cumbria County Council and Carlisle City Council. Thus all made up the £225 million overall cost for enabling works and the main construction.
The construction phase is expected to last at least two years, with the road set to open to the public in the summer of 2025. The Carlisle Southern Link Road is a significant investment in the city’s infrastructure. It will provide improved access to the M6 and facilitate the growth of St Cuthbert’s Garden Village.
MP for Carlisle, John Stevenson, expressed his appreciation for the government’s commitment to the project, highlighting the road’s importance in fostering economic development, creating new homes, and generating employment opportunities in the region.
Pauline Schaffer, Homes England’s infrastructure funding director, emphasised the project’s significance in unlocking the potential of St Cuthbert’s Garden Village. The project would ultimately deliver much-needed homes and contribute to the local community’s prosperity.
The construction of the Carlisle Southern Link Road marks an essential milestone in Carlisle’s infrastructure development. Thus, it paves the way for future growth and enhancing connectivity in the region.
