Cumbria County Council has appointed Galliford Try to build the Carlisle Southern Link Road after the Government agreed to stump up an additional £78m.
The highway authority, which is to be abolished at the end of this week, said that it, Carlisle City Council and the Government have remained committed to progressing the project ‘despite several challenges with rising costs of materials’.
One of Cumbria's successor unitary authorities, Cumberland Council, will be responsible for delivering the project and has given formal consent for the contract to be awarded.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will provide £212m for the new road through Homes England’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, in addition to the combined contributions of £13.8m from the two councils, which will be sourced from developer contributions.
According to the county council’s webpage for the scheme, the former Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government previously granted £134m towards the project.
In 2021, Morgan Sindall won the first stage of a £65m two-stage design and build early contractor involvement contract, to build the new road. However, last summer the county council retendered the second stage after the cost rose to an estimated £150m.
Cumbria CC said Galliford Try has been awarded a design and build contract but will 'fully utilise' a design that was completed in 2022.
The 8km road will connect Junction 42 of the M6 with the A595 at Newby West and connect with the Carlisle Northern Development route from the A595 to Junction 44 of the M6.
The county council said it is vital for the economic growth of Carlisle and to deliver the St. Cuthbert’s Garden Village that will deliver 10,000 new homes over the next 30 years and employment opportunities, bringing significant benefits to the city and the wider county.
Keith Little, cabinet member for highways and transport said: ‘What once felt like a pipe dream to build this new strategic road, now really feels like it is happening and gathering pace with the appointment of Galliford Try.
‘Cumbria County Council has campaigned to secure the funding needed for this project and it is a fantastic legacy for us in our final days to hand this to the new Cumberland Council to deliver the scheme for the people of Cumbria.’
Main construction works are due to commence on site in June with construction anticipated to take at least two years. The road is due to open to the public in the summer of 2025.
