Go-ahead for city bypass scheme

A £176m bypass to improve traffic flow in Carlisle has been approved.

A £176m long-awaited scheme to ease congestion in Carlisle has been given the go-ahead.

Transport minister Sadiq Khan said the Carlisle Northern Development Route (CNDR) would ease traffic flow, improve public transport and boost the economy.

Work is due to start in October and be completed by 2012.

Connect CNDR will build the 8.25km (5.13 mile) single carriageway bypass from the A595 at Newby West to junction 44 on the M6.

The Department for Transport said the bypass would improve links between west Cumbria, Scotland and the north-east of England.

Flood delays

It will also mean the development of a road and rail interchange at the Kingmoor Park business site.

Mr Khan said: "As well as helping relieve congestion in Carlisle - delivering improved public transport and encouraging more people to cycle through improved road safety - it will also help realise the full potential of the Kingmoor Park business site with the potential to provide up to 5,500 jobs."

The department will invest up to £158m for the project through the Private Finance Initiative scheme.

There was a public inquiry into the scheme and it was delayed by the 2005 flooding in the city.

Cumbria County Council deputy leader Councillor Stewart Young said: "Getting to where we are now has been an enormous challenge and it seems that hurdles have popped up almost every step of the way.

"But we've managed to overcome a public enquiry, the redesign caused by the 2005 floods, archaeological finds, and the global financial crisis which affected support for construction schemes all over the world."