£23.3 Million A595 South Cumbria Link Road to Open This Weekend
Motorists in South Cumbria will benefit from improved travel as the new £23.3 million A595 South Cumbria Link Road opens to traffic on Sunday, 2 August.
The new 0.8-mile route connects Chapels and Griesbeck, bypassing the narrow sections at Dove Bank and Dove Ford Farm, which have caused congestion and delays for years. It is the first major road scheme completed by Westmorland and Furness Council and is expected to improve traffic flow, reduce journey times and make the route safer for road users.
The scheme received £23.3 million in Government funding, with additional financial support from the council, the Department for Transport and Team Barrow, a partnership involving the Government, BAE Systems and the local authority.
To celebrate the completion of the project, community representatives and funding partners attended a special opening event. Three-year-old local resident Max Riley joined Councillor Peter Thornton in cutting the ceremonial ribbon, while hundreds of residents were invited to walk, cycle and scoot along the road before it opens to vehicles.
The project has also focused on environmental improvements. More than 31,000 trees, shrubs and hedgerows have been planted alongside the route, with around 60 local residents taking part in a community tree-planting event that added another 500 trees. The new bridge has been finished using locally sourced Burlington stone, blending the structure into the surrounding landscape.
Contractor Story Contracting and the council also contributed more than 350 volunteer hours to local community projects, including improvements to outdoor learning and play areas at Burlington Primary School.
Councillor Peter Thornton described the opening as a major milestone for South Cumbria, saying the scheme would significantly improve journeys along one of the region's busiest roads. He praised the support of local residents, campaign groups, funding partners and contractors for helping bring the long-awaited project to completion.
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