New £176m relief road around Carlisle opens

A government-appointed inspector approved the road plan in 2003 following a public inquiry

A multimillion-pound relief road, which is hoped will cut traffic jams in the centre of Carlisle, has opened.

The route links the A595 at Newby West to junction 44 on the M6.

The £176m project was paid for by a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme which combines public and private money.

Part of the new road opened in August 2011 allowing access to the Kingmoor Park Industrial Estate.

Delayed by floods

The single carriageway bypass will allow easier access between west Cumbria and the M6, avoiding Carlisle city centre.

A government-appointed inspector approved the road plan in 2003 following a public inquiry.

Tony Markley, Cumbria County Council's cabinet member responsible for highways, said: "It's clear that everyone in Carlisle and West Cumbria has been looking forward to the new road opening.

"This is a landmark occasion for business and commerce in the area."

The project was delayed by the 2005 Carlisle floods.