Project information
Project location
The Carlisle Southern Link Road will connect Junction 42 of the M6 with the A595 to the west. The route will include new junctions linking existing radial routes into Carlisle and the Garden Village.
The route will include bridges over two main railway lines and the Caldew and Petteril rivers, a network of footways and cycleways and an extensive programme of landscaping and environmental mitigation.
The 8km long road will provide vital infrastructure to relieve congestion in Carlisle and provide the access and network capacity to enable the successful and accelerated delivery of St Cuthbert's Garden Village.
Project objectives
Carlisle Southern Link Road Project Objectives (PDF 316KB)
Project timescales
The project timeline saw construction work commencing on site in June 2023 and is due to be complete in Summer 2025.
Project cost and funding
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has granted £212 million towards the project. In addition, Cumberland Council has committed to making a contribution of £13.4 million which includes £3.4 million from the future sale of Council owned land for the future development of St Cuthberts Garden Village.
Progress update - April 2024
As we begin April and the 11th month since construction of the new Carlisle Southern Link Road began, earthworks activity has ramped up and will continue to increase as the weather also improves. We've begun to move stabilised material from Newby West over to the most Easterly point of the project at Jct 42 of the M6. This stabilised material will be used to build up the area under the new road near the Golden Fleece roundabout M6 J42.
Key achievements for March include:
- great progression on all of the bridge structures and the delivery of the beams for the shared use foot and cycle bridge for the Durdar Roundabout and the Durdar Road bridge
- completion of the headwalls on the huge flood relief culvert in the Cummersdale valley. This culvert is situated close the river Caldew and will be buried under the new Caldew Crossing embankment.
Due to the exceptionally wet spring period we are experiencing some delays with our works in some areas. Over at the west side of the project, the Peter Lane Road closure has unfortunately been extended due some additional unplanned work. We have been working hard and we expect to have Peter Lane reopened at the end May.
This has delayed works starting on the Dalston Road as we need to close Dalston Road for the new roundabout construction. Once we reopen Peter Lane, we will then begin construction of the Dalston Road roundabout which will start with the closure of Dalston Road. We expect these works to take approximately four months. We expect Dalston Road will reopen towards the end of September.
Over at the east side of the project, an unforeseen clash with the new roundabout and some phone lines have resulted in an extension to the duration of the Wreay Road closure. Works to divert the phone lines will increasing the length of the closure by four weeks.
We realise how frustrating construction work can be especially when there are delays. We would like to assure you, that we are working hard to minimise the inconvenience and disruption experienced during the construction of the new road. We really appreciate your support and understanding.
As we move into April Cumberland Council, alongside our main contractor Galliford Try Infrastructure and our team of experienced local subcontractors will be:
- making progress on the new railway bridge, the new concrete beams will be delivered and lifted into place this month
- undertaking our first new road surface works on the project. Towards the end of the month, we are planning to surface the new Brisco roundabout and shared use paths
As part of our multi-million-pound investment in the infrastructure of the Carlisle Southern Link Road, we are equally as committed to invest in our local communities. We are working with our partners to ensure we add social value back into the country. Activities in April will include:
- supporting our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant. We are welcoming an ex-armed forces veteran in our project team. Armed forces personnel often have skills developed in the military that can be used on civilian based projects
- attending a careers Fair at the JobCentre meeting local people interested in a career within the construction industry
- joining the launch event of "Our Cumberland Story" an exciting new initiative
Come and find out more
The CSLR Project team are holding two public information events towards the end of April. The purpose of the event is to discuss with the public the placemaking elements across the routes, including use of the ponds, lighting and roundabout features to name a few.
Please come along to find out more and ask any questions on the scheme you may have on:
- Tuesday 30 April - Cummersdale Village Hall from 9am to 8pm
- Wednesday 1 May - Wreay Village Hall from 9am to 8pm
Carlisle Southern Link Road project hits first major milestone
In June 2023 Cumberland Council, alongside their main contractor Galliford Try Infrastructure, commenced the construction of the £225 million Carlisle Southern Link Road.
Carlisle Southern Link Road constructing a plan to inspire future careers in construction
Cumberland Council's main contractor for the Carlisle Southern Link Road (CSLR) project, Galliford Try Infrastructure, and their subcontractor Story Contracting, have recently begun a programme assisting Inspira, a leading career management organisation.
Construction of multi-million-pound Carlisle Southern Link Road commences
The construction of the multi-million-pound Carlisle Southern Link Road has officially commenced.
Cumbria County Council appoints a contractor for Carlisle Southern Link Road
Cumbria County Council's Cabinet have today (27 March 2023) agreed to appoint Galliford Try Construction Ltd to undertake the design and build of the multi-million-pound Carlisle Southern Link Road project.
Carlisle Southern Link Road invites businesses to tender in September
Cumbria County Council are inviting businesses to tender for the construction works contract in September, for the multi-million-pound Carlisle Southern Link Road.
Enabling works start for Carlisle Southern Link Road
The multi-million-pound Carlisle Southern Link Road project has reached another key milestone with enabling works due to start on site from next week.
Carlisle school children work together to name new bridge on Carlisle Southern Link Road
Pupils at a local Carlisle primary school joined a virtual workshop with teams from Cumbria County Council and Morgan Sindall Infrastructure last week, to come up with names for the new bridge set to be built over the River Caldew and Cumbrian Coastline Railway.
New Carlisle Southern Link Road given the green light
Plans to build the new Carlisle Southern Link Road (CSLR) were given the green light today following approval of the planning application by the county council's Development Control and Regulation Committee.
Cumbria County Council opens procurement competition for the construction of Carlisle Southern Link Road
Cumbria County Council has launched the competitive procurement process to identify a contractor to design and build the new Carlisle Southern Link Road (CSLR).
Cumbria County Council's Cabinet agree multi million pound funding deal to deliver Carlisle Southern Link Road
Cumbria County Council's Cabinet has agreed to enter in to a new and important funding agreement with Homes England to deliver the new Carlisle Southern Link Road. The funding agreement is a major milestone and is worth in excess of £134million and secures the final funding arrangement required to secure the delivery of the new Carlisle Southern Link Road.
New Carlisle Southern Link Road takes another step forward
Following extensive public consultation and numerous different environmental surveys along the proposed route of the new Carlisle Southern Link Road (CLSR), Cumbria County Council have now submitted the planning application, marking another key step closer towards the delivery of the scheme.
Public invited to have their say on Carlisle Southern Link Road plans (31 May 2019)
Local residents, businesses and organisations are being asked to have their say on the development of the new Carlisle Southern Link Road which will support St Cuthbert's Garden Village.
County Council secures £102m funding for Carlisle Southern Link Road
Confirmation of multi million pound funding to develop plans for the Carlisle Southern Link Road (CSLR) has been announced by the government.
Link Road funding bid submitted (13 September 2018)
Cumbria County Council and Carlisle City Council submit Outline Business Case to Housing Infrastructure Fund.
Green light for green route - Carlisle Southern Link Road plans take next step (22 June 2018)
Following extensive public consultation and technical work the 'green route' has been selected as the preferred option for the new Carlisle Southern Link Road.
Link road moves to next stage in funding bid (21 March 2018)
Plans for the new Carlisle Southern Link Road received a major boost today with news that the scheme has been selected by Government to move to the next stage of its funding bid.
Public invited to have their say on St Cuthbert's Garden Village and Southern Link Road proposals (26 January 2018)
Local residents, businesses and organisations are being asked to have their say on proposals to create a new Garden Village on the south side of Carlisle, and the associated development of a new southern link road, as part of public consultations launched by the city and county councils.
Funding bid for southern link road (29 September 2017)
An application was submitted in September 2017 for the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF). The 'HIF' is a £2.3 billion Fund which offers funding to local authorities on a competitive basis, for infrastructure to support up to 100,000 new homes.
Plans to investigate a southern link road for Carlisle begin (25 August 2017)
As part of developing an improved road network in and around Carlisle, Cumbria County Council are in the early stages of exploring the possibility of a Southern Link Road for Carlisle. Capita have been commissioned to undertake this early work which is planned to take place between the end of August 2017 and the beginning of October 2017.
To deliver the Carlisle Southern Link Road (CSLR) project, Cumberland Council must acquire the land necessary to build the road prior to works commencing on site. To secure the land required, the council's preferred approach is to purchase the land through agreement with landowners. Whilst negotiations are ongoing, the council has followed a legal process to enable it to secure the land through the use of Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers if necessary. The Council has also prepared a Side Roads Order (SRO) which enables it to stop-up and/or create new legal rights for the CSLR and the affected side roads and Public Rights of Way. The legal documents associated with this process are:
CSLR General Vesting Declaration December 2021 (PDF 44MB)
CSLR Compulsory Purchase Order 2020 - confirmed by the Secretary of State, October 2021 (PDF 32MB)
CSLR Side Roads Order 2020 - confirmed by the Secretary of State, October 2021 (PDF 5.3MB)
CSLR Public Inquiry Notice (PDF 1MB)
If you have any queries or comments regarding the Carlisle Southern Link Road project, please contact the project team at CarlisleSouthern.LinkRoad@cumbria.gov.uk
As part of our multi-million-pound investment in the infrastructure of Carlisle Southern Link Road, we believe it is important to invest in our people.
Multiple opportunities for people within Cumbria will made available through this project. If you are interested in getting involved or finding out more, please register your interest online.
The types of opportunities that will be offered include:
- Apprenticeships
- T-Levels
- Work Placements
We will only use your email address to send information about apprentice, trainee and work experience opportunities relating to Carlisle Southern Link Road.