A689 Carlisle Northern Relief Road

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Type: Bypass or realignment for use by all traffic
Status: Completed
Authority: Cumbria County Council
Cost: £ 176m
Finance: Private Finance Initiative
Timescale: 2009-2012
Length: 8.25 km (5.1 miles)

Scheme Outline

Construction of a new single carriageway bypass to link west Cumbria directly to the M6. Also called the Carlisle Northern Development Route, which signals its true purpose as a corridor for expansion to Carlisle's urban area.

Progress

14 August 2006	Advance work is taking place at M6 J44 to accommodate the new road, though this is limited to building the new entry and exit from the roundabout and installing traffic lights there.
14 May 2007	Work is now due to start in summer 2007, the relevant planning procedures having been all but completed.
9 November 2008	In the last month, due to funding problems in the current economic climate, the project has been delayed until at least Spring 2009. There is some debate as to whether the scheme will go ahead at all.
10 February 2009	Although the full scheme has not yet commenced there is evidence along much of the route of preliminary timber and scrub clearance.
9 March 2009	New signage installed on M6 J44 roundabout have A689(W) on them, so looks like the bypass will be an extension of the A689 when built.
20 July 2009	Latest news is that construction will start in October 2009, finishing in April 2012.
23 October 2009	Work is now underway on the construction of this road.
20 January 2011	A contractor doing work on this site was informed by the management that the project is currently running seven months ahead a schedule.
14 April 2011	Phase 1 between J44 and the Kingmoor Park Central roundabout is due to open May 6th. This includes the Parkhouse Roundabout, Kingmoor North roundabout and new signalised junction at Chandler Way.
21 June 2011	Connection to j44 not open as of 12 June, but signs are installed with the A689 number.
16 August 2011	The 1.2 mile northern section opened to traffic on 10 August 2011.
20 January 2012	According to the local press, the new road is likely to open early, although a date for the official opening ceremony has not yet been announced. The carriageway is finished, but some work still remains to complete the signage and earthworks before the final safety inspection can take place.
14 February 2012	The road opened to traffic today.