Bypass opens to make life safer and quieter for people in West Cumbria
Local people in West Cumbria will have a safer, quieter life, when the A595 Parton to Lillyhall bypass opened this afternoon [Wednesday 17th December].
But work continues to the existing road north of the Tollbar roundabout in the New Year.
Highways Agency project manager Stephen Greenhalgh said:
“We decided to get the bypass open as quickly as possible for local people while we continue with the rest of the scheme.
“Opening the bypass section of the new road will be good news for people living in Distington, Common End and Howgate who will no longer have to put up with traffic using an unsuitable road through their villages. It will also make journeys safer and more reliable.”
The new road takes traffic away from the unsafe tight bends, junctions and accesses that cause delays. And the visual intrusion caused by 17,000 vehicles a day – many of them heavy lorries – will be greatly reduced.
Highways Agency contractors, Morrison Construction began the work on the new £40 million, three mile long road in February 2007.
Special care has been taken to protect animals and the environment during construction. New habitats have been created for greater crested newts and bats have been provided with new roosts and a “bridge” to guide them across the bypass.
A bridge has also been built to carry a footpath, bridleway and cycleway after the original route was cut by the construction of the new road.
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