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#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Carlisle's damaged Millennium Bridge closed
Cumberland News, Tuesday 14 June 2011


Rusty metalwork on the bridge

The Irishgate Bridge across Castle Way in Carlisle has been shut until further notice after an inspection found damage to the structure.

The £750,000 footbridge - known locally as the Millennium Bridge - has been plagued by gremlins since it opened in 2000.

It follows the line of the city wall, providing a link across the busy dual carriageway from the city centre to Carlisle Castle and Bitts Park.

The city council is advising pedestrians to use subways at Tullie House or Hardwicke Circus, or the pelican crossing by the former Globe pub, while the bridge is out of action.

A spokesman said: “We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank the public for their understanding.”

The 110ft-long curved bridge weighs 60 tonnes, is finished in white and features a 60ft-high steel mast from which load-bearing cables span out.

The Civic Trust branded it too modern and out of character and argued it was not needed.


Read More - http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk/car...nium-bridge-closed-1.846969?referrerPath=home
 
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#148 ·
And even more A66 news, although it will be some time before this bit of work is completed. It is a junction which I am not fond of as a user of the A66. Getting out of the side roads can involve a long wait, especially if turning right so I can understand why some drivers take risks.

From the Times and Star, 22-09-16

Major step forward in dangerous road junction improvement

A huge step has been taken in the fight to improve two dangerous junctions on a busy stretch of road.


Little Broughton man Mick Crombleholme

Campaigners have been pressing highways chiefs for years to make changes to the staggered Brigham and Broughton junctions on the A66, where there have been multiple collisions and several deaths.

Kier Construction, working on behalf of Highways England, has this week revealed initial plans for a four-way roundabout on the road in the middle of the two junctions.

Broughton councillor Nicky Cockburn said exploratory works would begin in the next eight weeks – but there would not be a start date until 2018.

Copies of the plans have been sent out to interested parties, and Kier is asking for opinions.

The news has been welcomed by those who have been tirelessly fighting for major improvements at the notorious black spots.

As well as motorists sitting for lengthy amounts of time at both junctions trying to get onto the A66, there are also major problems with those driving into the exit lane on the main road, waiting to turn into the villages.
Full story at http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/...ement-375296cf-5287-4ec9-a89d-5c09e0558adc-ds
 
#149 ·
This from the News & Star,--

Priority road projects identified



THERE are 38 projects which need to be carried out on Cumbria's roads as a priority, according to a new report.

These schemes include an access bridge at the Port of Workington, a bypasses for Ulverston and Whitehaven and improvements to the A595 near Carlisle.

All of the priority projects were identified in the West of M6 Strategic Connectivity Study, has been published by Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Cumbria County Council and Highways England,

These organisations consulted businesses, other organisations and road users.

Graham Haywood, director of Cumbria LEP, said: “This study is important because it provides the evidence base to support the county in its bids for government funding for road improvements.
It builds on our infrastructure plan, which was published earlier in the year.

“It clearly sets out the improvements that will need to be made to key points in the road infrastructure to accommodate the economic growth that the county will experience over the next 15 years.”

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/l...ified-ebbf48c2-3549-426e-a863-d8144c88558c-ds
 
#150 ·
#151 ·
This from the News & Star,--

Road works causing delays for drivers in Carlisle



29 September 2016 7:05AM

Traffic chaos has hit Carlisle once again with motorists facing increased journey times as they try to make their way in and out of the city.

Work being undertaken on the mini roundabout between Currock Road, Currock Street and Crown Street by Electricity North West has seen traffic backed up in all directions as cars wait at the three-way lights since Monday night.

Motorists attempting to access London Road through Currock's Boundary Road must also cope with a two-week diversion following the closure of Beaconsfield Street. Work on the road, a busy thoroughfare, is being undertaken at its entrance onto Five Roads End by Northern Gas Networks.

Some motorists reported that journeys from one side of the city to the other have taken more than half an hour to the tailbacks. Businesses close to where work has been taking place say they have noticed a fall in trade.

Derek Brown, sales manager at Border City Autos on Crown Street, said: We've definitely had fewer people dropping in over the past couple of days. I think because of the roadworks people aren't stopping to come in and have a look around.

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/R...lisle-c5412e12-7510-4ec1-b8f9-a30b567fe562-ds
 
#153 ·
One road scheme that was mentioned in the late noughties, but would be made more complicated due to a supermarket being built in Salterbeck, was a southern relief road for Workington that would have started where the Asda is now in Salterbeck and would have ended near Westlakes College. Using the A597 every day for work, the road is hopelessly congested, a set of temporary traffic lights at High Harrington is adding ten minutes to my journey, and buses and slow moving lorries cause considerable tailbacks. A relief road would make a huge difference.
 
#154 ·
This from the News & Star,--

Relief for motorists as Carlisle roadworks complete



Roadworks that have been causing delays across Carlisle are now complete.

The works, on Eastern Way, are part of the redevelopment of the Durranhill industrial estate.

But the temporary traffic lights have proven a headache for motorists, with long tailbacks affecting traffic in both the Warwick Road and London Road areas during peak times.

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/l...plete-e168eadf-b55d-4533-b037-acc54678e3ea-ds
 
#155 ·
This from the News & Star,--

New measures to tackle Carlisle parking problems revealed by county council



25 October 2016 8:24AM

Thoughtless drivers have been blamed for massive parking problems in a busy area of Carlisle as new measures are revealed to tackle the issue.

Residents in Denton Holme say they often struggle to park near their homes and businesses say their customers often can’t reach them because of the long-standing issues.

City councillor for Denton Holme, Hugh McDevitt, blamed drivers who park inconsiderately for the issues in the area.

Mr McDevitt was speaking ahead of a meeting when the county council local committee for Carlisle will consider a raft of measures aimed at easing traffic and parking problems in Denton Holme, including new loading and parking bays, double yellow lines and disc zones.

Mr McDevitt said: “We carry out actions like this because we have been forced into it by the thoughtlessness of some road users. That’s why we have these things in the first place.”

The county council’s highways and transport working group, which Mr McDevitt is a part of, has put forward a total of 18 measures.

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/N...uncil-69b7cd2b-f4e4-47fa-a7a1-3cfc36f0af1d-ds
 
#156 ·
This from the News & Star,--

Major Cumbria route closed overnight for flood work



26 October 2016 8:24AM

One of the main roads through Cumbria will be closed overnight over the next six weeks as work is carried out to deliver £1.5 million flood resilience improvements.

Then project along the A66 at Bassenthwaite Lake started on Monday evening with work being carried out on both west and eastbound carriageways.

Highways England is working to raise sections of the carriageway by more than a metre in several places in response to last December's Storm Desmond.

In all, five sections of the route, which is a mix of dual carriageway and single carriageway sections, are being improved over the next few months in a project which started in September.

Work alongside Dubwath Beck has already started with road closures between 8pm and 6am each night – for around 6 weeks.

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/l...-work-1929644b-86f9-4781-b635-f533ac347fd6-ds
 
#157 ·
This from the News & Star,--

Unsafe railway bridge needs to be demolished, says Network Rail



28 October 2016 8:48AM

A railway bridge is set to be repaired after experts deemed it to be structurally unsafe.

Network Rail, the organisation responsible for maintaining the country's train infrastructure, said one of the bridges in Aspatria is in need of being replaced.



Experts want the bridge, off the A596 to Springkell, to be demolished before it gets into a worse state.

Following planning approval from Allerdale Council, scoping work is being carried out to assess exactly what needs to be done.

A Network Rail spokesman said it needed to be urgently replaced - although no start date had yet been confirmed.

He added: "We are hoping to be finished by late this year or early in 2017.

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/U...-Rail-baee69e6-d64d-4aec-8f71-7faeb43226b9-ds
 
#158 · (Edited by Moderator)
This from the News & Star,--

A66 roadworks to be lifted

Roadworks on the A66 at Bassenthwaite Lake, where £1.5m of flood prevention work is taking place, will be lifted on Monday.

Highways England is working to raise sections of the carriageway in several places in response to flooding in recent years which has led to the partial or full closures of the road during severe weather.

In all, five sections of the route, which is a mix of dual and single carriageway, are being improved over the next few months in a project which started in September.


Work alongside Dubwath Beck – between Lambfoot and Dubwath junctions - had required up to six weeks of overnight closures but so much progress has been made during the first two weeks that the closures are being suspended for a fortnight.

Round-the-clock traffic lights - staffed at peak times to save drivers from needless queuing - will be used instead.

Read more A66 roadworks to be lifted
 
#159 ·
This from the News & Star,--

New traffic lights will 'cause chaos' for Carlisle motorists, claims council




New traffic lights will 'cause chaos' for Carlisle motorists, claims council
SHARE THIS STORY


Kingmoor Road
7 November 2016 6:12PM

A new traffic system which will see vehicles go under a busy bridge in single file will cause "chaos" if it is implemented, according to a council leader.

Cumbria County Council has approved the creation of a new cycle route along Kingmoor Road, Carlisle, connecting it with the city's western bypass.

But because the road is so narrow under the bridge, just a few metres away from one of the A689's roundabouts, vehicles must be made to go through one at a time so the new path can be safe.
It’s been a long-held ambition of the local councils to link the city centre to the bypass (A689) through a series of footpaths and cycleways.

The idea to create the new cycle path and traffic control measures was approved at a meeting of the council's local committee for Carlisle last month.

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/N...uncil-be561191-c83a-444d-b472-3267937421bb-ds
 
#160 ·
As expected (by me, anyway), Carlisle Council has decided that the Castle Way crossing will go ahead:

From the News and Star:

Controversial crossing for busy Carlisle road will go ahead despite opposition



A controversial pedestrian crossing over Carlisle's Castle Way will go ahead despite more than 1,000 people signing a petition calling for the idea to be scrapped.

Members of Carlisle City Council backed up their decision to install the crossing over the busy road at a meeting tonight.
The scheme, which has divided opinion across the city, come under fresh scrutiny when a 1,300-name strong petition was submitted to the council calling for the plans to be thrown out.

Those who put together the petition say the crossing will cause congestion problems on the busy road adding that the route is already a source of "misery on a daily basis for commuters". Opposers also say there's already three existing crossings available.

But many councillors spoke in favour of the scheme which is being funded by Sainsbury's as part of an agreement which allowed them to build their Caldewgate store.
Full story at http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/l...ition-eeb3b3ec-ebbd-48bc-8b7c-eeeb6aa2ed90-ds
 
#161 ·
This from the News & Star,--

Busy west Cumbria road closed for days



16 November 2016 8:33AM

A busy west Cumbrian road will be closed until next week.

Cold Fell Road, frequently used as a "rat run" to Sellafield, is shut between its junction with the A595 at Calderbridge and the Ennerdale Bridge junction that leads to the A5086.

A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "The road is closed while Cumbria Highways completes roadworks as cattle grids are being removed for resurfacing works.

"Drivers are asked to comply with road closure signs for the safety of all road users."

Cold Fell Road is expected to reopen on Monday.

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/l...-days-5aac48b1-4e60-4d9a-ad0c-a080b393b80a-ds
 
#162 ·
This from the News & Star,--

Vital repair work to go ahead to stop 19th-century bridge collapsing



16 November 2016 4:25PM

Emergency work will go ahead in a bid to prevent the collapse of a Grade-II listed bridge.

Brougham Old Bridge was one of dozens left badly damaged when Storm Desmond wreaked havoc through Cumbria in December.

The initial damage was recorded on December 15, when county council officials took the decision to close it and install temporary sandbag protection around it.
However, inspections throughout the following spring

and as recently as May have shown significant deterioration in the condition of the bridge - with fears it could follow Bell Bridge, near Welton, and collapse completely.

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/l...psing-97162e61-d9c2-4543-9130-32e4f9d9629e-ds
 
#329 ·
Brougham Bridge re-opened on 12th December, just shy of 2 years since Storm Desmond.

Noteworthy is the use of as much salvaged stone as possible from the damaged areas of the bridge, presumably because it is a listed structure, but some new, locally quarried stone has had to be used as well.

Full story with lots of pictures and a video at http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/A...pened-6cf72ddb-3ef0-4a4a-a134-643e59e2dae7-ds
 
#163 ·
This from the News & Star,--

Roads closed as ice causes havoc on Cumbria's roads




Roads closed as ice causes havoc on Cumbria's roads
SHARE THIS STORY

Snow falls in Cumbria causing accidents on many roads
19 November 2016 10:34AM

One of Cumbria's key roads has been closed because of the weather.

The A66 is blocked between Brough and Bowes because of snow.

Snow is also affecting driving conditions on the M6, A591 and A592.

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/l...roads-7ab07b8f-41bf-401e-bc32-2f9a3c55ea63-ds
 
#164 ·
From the DfT website!

£1 million reconstruction project to solve A590 Lindal ‘dip’ flooding

A £1 million Highways England project to resolve a long-running issue with flooding along the A590 at Lindal-in-Furness in Cumbria, is to get underway on Friday (25 November).

A section of the route, known locally as Lindal dip – at the junction with Green Lane east of the village - frequently floods in heavy rain. During last December’s storms temporary traffic lights had to be deployed several times to help drivers pass the flooded carriageway.



The flooding is caused by a combination of factors including the carriageway dip and water from several sources, including the local road network, collecting on the A590.

The work, which is due to be completed by the end of March, involves raising and realigning the carriageway and adding to major drainage improvements completed this summer.
More at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...ion-project-to-solve-a590-lindal-dip-flooding
 
#165 ·
This from the News & Star,---

Chancellor pledges to dual the A66: Autumn Statement round-up



23 November 2016 1:54PM

CHANCELLOR Philip Hammond unveiled his plan to boost Britain's economy when he delivered the Autumn Statement today.

The expected hike in infrastructure spending will include dualing the A66 between Penrith and Scotch Corner to boost east-west connectivity.

He confirmed that the Income T ax personal allowance would rise to £12,500 and the higher rate threshold to £50,000 by the end of the Parliament.

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/l...nd-up-9169b00b-ea86-4245-94aa-17abf30d31df-ds
 
#166 ·
This from the News & Star,,--

Death toll prompts urgent demand for upgrade of A595 in Cumbria



29 November 2016 7:40PM

A NEW demand have been made for the urgent upgrade of the A595 through Cumbria after it emerged that 17 people were killed on the road in a four-year period.

Jamie Reed, MP for Copeland, says that the accident statistics on the major road between Carlisle and west Cumbria are "unacceptable" and has called on the Government to take action.

He was speaking after figures revealed there were 528 accidents on the A595 in Cumbria between 2011 and 2015; 17 of which were fatal. He will now table a Parliamentary question to Chris Grayling, the Secretary of State for Transport.
Mr Reed said: "Government must get an immediate grip on the A595, commit to its full upgrade, and improve safety along the road.

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/l...mbria-fc50cd0b-755a-409b-a902-040229053679-ds
 
#167 ·
This from the News & Star,--

Residents plea to Cumbrian councils over dark danger road



9 December 2016 9:02AM

Anxious residents fear it is just a matter of time before someone is knocked over on a country road

, unless lighting is put up.

People in Harriston, near Aspatria, are pleading with the authorities to install lighting on the road between the village and the town, which is a necessary route for many walkers on a daily basis.

There are currently no lights on the stretch where the road out of the village meets the main road into Aspatria.
t’s a situation villagers have had to deal with for more than two years and their efforts to find a solution have so far been unsuccessful.

Phillip Thomson, 48, who lives in Harriston, is helping to lobby local councils to try to get lighting put up.

“It’s just a question of time until somebody gets knocked over. There have been a few near misses,” he said. “The footpath is very tiny. It’s very dangerous.

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/R...-road-bf482961-28bb-497e-a111-88310ca9259d-ds
 
#168 ·
This from the News & Star,--

Planned rise in parking charges at Talkin Tarn criticised by Carlisle councillors



Concerns have been raised over plans to double the price of annual parking permits at a north Cumbrian country park.

As part of its budget for 2017/18 to 2021/22, Carlisle City Council has proposed raising the price of a permit at Talkin Tarn, near Brampton by more than £50.

However the proposals by the Labour-led council, which will launch its draft budget next Monday, are being questioned by Tory members.

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/P...llors-4abaea47-9cf7-4ca4-b3ff-1b6a8b2e4ce9-ds
 
#169 ·
This from the News & Star,---

Reays drops 'vital' Maryport-Skinburness bus route saying it's no longer viable



A coach firm has pulled the plug on a bus route that had been saved from the axe following a residents' campaign.

Bosses at Wigton-based Reays say the number 60 service - which runs from Skinburness, near Silloth, to Maryport - is no longer commercially viable due to a low number of passengers.

The company announced in February it was to cut the route completely.
But following calls from locals along the coast the firm performed a u-turn.

At the time Chris Reay, the firm's managing director, said they were trying to retain the service as it was vital for people to travel to work and school but added it needed public support.

The Silloth to Maryport route was combined with the number 58 Maryport to Cockermouth service and the number 59 Cockermouth town bus in a bid to increase viability.
It currently runs every day except Sunday.

However, the situation has not improved and this week Reays confirmed that all three services would be removed from their timetables.

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/R...iable-260a98de-9855-42e5-b46b-dd56c555e8c3-ds
 
#170 ·
Had to chuckle at reading the comment of a local councillor that there are no other buses going west from Silloth. I think he means south-west, as any bus heading west from Silloth will very quickly end up in the sea :lol:

On a more serious note, this is another in a growing list of rural bus services withdrawn or severely cut back after attempts by operators to run them commercially after the County Council cut all funding last year have proved (unsurprisingly) unsuccessful. There is a reason why the council was subsidising them :eek:hno:

Another service which has succumbed is the 563 from Penrith to Appleby & Kirkby Stephen which ends today, leaving the two latter towns with no bus services other than college services and a few one day per week routes.
 
#171 ·
This from the News & Star,---

MP demands trunk road status for A595



22 December 2016 9:45AM

Carlisle MP John Stevenson has appealed to the the Government to take responsibility for the A595.

The Conservative has met Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to suggest its trunk road status be reinstated, so making Highways England responsible for operations and maintenance rather than Cumbria County Council.

He believes this would mean more money would be available for the route - the main link between Carlisle and west Cumbria - and this would benefit the county economically.


Carlisle MP John Stevenson has appealed to the the Government to take responsibility for the A595.

The Conservative has met Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to suggest its trunk road status be reinstated, so making Highways England responsible for operations and maintenance rather than Cumbria County Council.

He believes this would mean more money would be available for the route - the main link between Carlisle and west Cumbria - and this would benefit the county economically.


Mr Stevenson also spoke to the minister about making improvements to the A69.

He said: "I met Chris Grayling to speak about the A69 and A595 with Guy Opperman [MP for Hexham].

"There has been an agreement to get improvements to the A69 near Hexham but I was pushing the Secretary of State to do something at the Carlisle side and these have not been ruled out.

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/b...-A595-e67c7ef6-f9e5-4a22-a50a-a44a18e16404-ds
 
#173 ·
The A595 is in desperate need of improvement in Whitehaven. You can go from 70 mph to 20 mph in heavy traffic when the dual carriageway ends at Parton. Ideally there should be a relief road built around Whitehaven and a by pass of Bigrigg, which should be quite easy to build. Also further south, the section of the A595 that passes through a farm should be completely replaced.
Other road schemes I'd like, which Cumbria County Council wanted in the noughties but never came to fruition is a relief road from Salterbeck to West Lakes College and dualling the A66 from Bridgefoot to Papcastle. Other improvements I'd consider in the east of the county would be a by pass of Warwick Bridge and dualling the A69 from Brampton to Greenhead.
 
#172 ·
This from the News & Star,--

Travel and power problems as Storm Barbara hits Cumbria



Trains on the main line through Cumbria have been disrupted and power to more than 1,000 homes has been out as strong winds hit the county.

The A66 - one of the main routes across the north of England - has also been shut to high sided vehicles by Highways England.

It was closed to high sided and vulnerable vehicles from junction 40 of the M6 and the A1 at Scotch corner for most of this afternoon, but has reopened this evening.
Drivers are being warned the route is also blocked with queuing traffic between Brough and Bowes due to an overturned lorry.

Highways England said: "Road users are advised to take extra care when driving

today as strong

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/l...mbria-befba23f-7f70-41c6-839a-fdd59c457435-ds
 
#174 ·
This from the News & Star,--

Road upgrade could bring huge benefits to Penrith



A massive upgrade of one of Cumbria's key roads could help kick-start a 30-year far-reaching blueprint for Eden district - turning Penrith into a boom town.

Plans for a revamp of the A66 are at the centre of a vision designed to transport residents' into a smart and sustainable future for this part of the county.

In his Autumn Statement, Chancellor Philip Hammond announced plans to dual the A66 between Penrith and Scotch Corner.
Eden Council leader Kevin Beaty told The Cumberland News: "The announcement that the A66 will be upgraded opens the door to bring in huge opportunities for Penrith and the wider area.

"We believe it will enable us to tap into the £20 billion investment in nuclear on Cumbria's west coast.

"We have never been better placed to generate ideas to transform the area, to support the local economy, provide employment or find housing solutions."

Read more http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/R...nrith-dd76855f-9f56-4b37-8c74-f7452347ef38-ds
 
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