Approval to fill 'Cumberland Gap'

About 42,000 vehicles use the road every day

The government has given the green light to a £174m scheme to fill in the missing motorway link between England and Scotland.

This will upgrade to motorway standard a stretch of the A74 in the area known as the Cumberland Gap.

The 5.8 mile (9.3k) route runs from the end of the M6 at Carlisle to the start of the A74(M) at Guards Mill, just south of the Scottish border at Gretna.

A separate road for non-motorised and local traffic will be built close by.

The route is the main link in the west between England and Scotland and carries 42,000 vehicles a day, including about 10,000 heavy goods vehicles.

'Quicker and safer'

In December 2004, stranded drivers were forced to sleep in their vehicles after the road was closed for 24-hours following a collision between three lorries on a narrow section.

Thursday's announcement follows a public inquiry which began last autumn.

Roads Minister Stephen Ladyman said: "The scheme will provide the 'missing link' in the motorway network between London and Glasgow.

"Drivers will benefit from quicker, safer and more reliable journey times as well as improved access to the motorway network."