Motorists in Carlisle can now travel along a new section of road connecting Newby West Roundabout and the newly constructed Cummersdale Roundabout on the B5299 at Dalston Road. The opening marks a significant milestone in the Carlisle Southern Link Road Project, which aims to improve connectivity across the city.
The project will ultimately provide a new route over the River Caldew, linking the A595 and A689 at Newby West Roundabout to the M6 at Junction 42. Cumberland Council confirmed that while this section of the road is now open to traffic, the full Southern Link Road is still expected to officially open by the end of the year, with landscaping and other finishing touches planned for early 2026.
This new stretch replaces the previous route between Wigton Road and Dalston Road, which ran via Peter Lane. Cumberland Council has announced that Peter Lane will be permanently closed at the Newby West end, though access will remain available for residents and landowners. Ongoing work to provide new access to Kingrigg Livery Stables has required temporary traffic lights and traffic management measures.
The opening comes after major works at Newby West Roundabout, which links Wigton Road on the A595 with Carlisle city centre. The old roundabout has been removed and replaced with a larger, more traffic-capable design to cope with increasing vehicle volumes.
Cumberland Council also confirmed that work is continuing to construct a new crossing over the River Caldew, with the remaining concrete pours scheduled for completion this month. The new crossing is a key element of the Southern Link Road, which is designed to ease congestion, improve road safety, and support the city’s long-term development plans.
The Southern Link Road project will also play a crucial role in the creation of St Cuthbert’s Garden Village, a major new community planned to include 10,000 homes over the next 30 to 40 years. Council officials say that improving access and connectivity will be essential to support future growth while providing modern infrastructure for residents and businesses in Carlisle.
Once fully completed, the Southern Link Road will provide a smoother, more efficient route for commuters and freight traffic, reducing journey times and easing congestion on local roads. While some “finishing touches” remain, the opening of this section represents a key step forward for the city’s transport network.
