The convoy travelling along the Carlisle Northern Development Route to mark its recent official opening. The CNDR will help ease traffic congestion in Carlisle city centre and speed up journeys to Scotland.
A new multi-million pound road which stops motorists having to travel through the centre of Carlisle in North West England has opened to the public two months ahead of schedule.
The new Carlisle Northern Development Route (CNDR) starts from the Wigton Road (A595) to the south west of Carlisle, follows a route around the west of the city crossing the River Eden on a new bridge near Stainton and the West Coast Main Line on a new two-lane bridge constructed at Kingmoor.
The new road layout allows easier access to West Cumbria from the roundabout at Junction 44 of the M6 rather than having to travel through Carlisle city centre providing better links to Scotland and the North East.
The CNDR, with its combination of both building the new road and maintaining existing roads making it the first PFI (Private Finance Initiative) project of its kind for a UK local authority, was opened by Cumbria County Council (CCC) chairman John Woolley in a ribbon cutting event attended by other key county councillors and officers, contractors and local traders.
"The road opens up new possibilities for commuters and commerce alike, forming an important new link around Carlisle to the north west of the county,” said Councillor Woolley.
“I’m sure it will soon become a vital part of everyday life for people who live and work in Carlisle and bring more jobs and prosperity to the area."
Vehicles representing local transport businesses, including an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally Car, a KC Superbikes Suzuki GSX-1000, local cyclists Willy and Sue Ward, a Connect Roads/CCC gritter, an Eddie Stobart HGV, a BSW Timber HGV, and a coach provided by Irvings of Carlisle, formed a mini convoy to travel the length of the 8.25km route, which was then systematically opened in stages behind the convoy.
The new road will not only reduce journey times through Carlisle but also greatly reduce the number of HGVs and other vehicles travelling through the city centre. Engineers will be monitoring the operation of the network and gathering data on the usage of the new road.
Drivers are being urged by CCC to take extra care while people are getting used to the new road layout.
CCC's contractor partner Connect Roads, who will manage and maintain the road until 2039, also attended the opening event with the main contractor1486 Birse Civils.
Andy Dean, regional manager for Connect Roads, said: “We are delighted to have achieved an early opening of CNDR for the benefit of the road users, local community and businesses.”
Major construction work on the road started in October 2009, although preliminary construction work had already began before the county council and Connect agreed their US$279.1million (£176million) 30-year partnership in July 2009.
The new Carlisle Northern Development Route (CNDR) starts from the Wigton Road (A595) to the south west of Carlisle, follows a route around the west of the city crossing the River Eden on a new bridge near Stainton and the West Coast Main Line on a new two-lane bridge constructed at Kingmoor.
The new road layout allows easier access to West Cumbria from the roundabout at Junction 44 of the M6 rather than having to travel through Carlisle city centre providing better links to Scotland and the North East.
The CNDR, with its combination of both building the new road and maintaining existing roads making it the first PFI (Private Finance Initiative) project of its kind for a UK local authority, was opened by Cumbria County Council (CCC) chairman John Woolley in a ribbon cutting event attended by other key county councillors and officers, contractors and local traders.
"The road opens up new possibilities for commuters and commerce alike, forming an important new link around Carlisle to the north west of the county,” said Councillor Woolley.
“I’m sure it will soon become a vital part of everyday life for people who live and work in Carlisle and bring more jobs and prosperity to the area."
Vehicles representing local transport businesses, including an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally Car, a KC Superbikes Suzuki GSX-1000, local cyclists Willy and Sue Ward, a Connect Roads/CCC gritter, an Eddie Stobart HGV, a BSW Timber HGV, and a coach provided by Irvings of Carlisle, formed a mini convoy to travel the length of the 8.25km route, which was then systematically opened in stages behind the convoy.
The new road will not only reduce journey times through Carlisle but also greatly reduce the number of HGVs and other vehicles travelling through the city centre. Engineers will be monitoring the operation of the network and gathering data on the usage of the new road.
Drivers are being urged by CCC to take extra care while people are getting used to the new road layout.
CCC's contractor partner Connect Roads, who will manage and maintain the road until 2039, also attended the opening event with the main contractor
Andy Dean, regional manager for Connect Roads, said: “We are delighted to have achieved an early opening of CNDR for the benefit of the road users, local community and businesses.”
Major construction work on the road started in October 2009, although preliminary construction work had already began before the county council and Connect agreed their US$279.1million (£176million) 30-year partnership in July 2009.
