Cumberland Council is highlighting how the Carlisle Southern Link Road (CSLR) is delivering not only a vital new transport route for vehicles, but also major new facilities for people walking, wheeling and cycling.
The Carlisle Southern Link Road is Cumberland’s largest ever infrastructure investment, and it has been designed to help everyone move more safely and sustainably for many years to come. The 8km shared use path that follows the route and will connect Carleton and Cummersdale via Durdar for the first time. The new path is fully lit for the entire route, apart from the section over the Caldew Crossing, which isn't lit for environmental reasons.
The new path is also linked to other routes such as the popular Dalston to Carlisle route along the Caldew and the routes along the Petteril such as Wreay Woods, allowing residents to make much more use of the existing paths in the area for leisure and or commuting.
The new CSLR route provides a much-needed alternative for vehicles and will reduce the number of vehicles travelling through the city centre to use one of the bridges over the Cumbria Coast Line Railway or River Caldew. This means that once the new route opens, the reduction in traffic moving through the city will also improve journeys for those on existing routes, making some of the Greener Travel options more reliable and accessible.
CSLR Active Travel Features:
- Over 14 km of new high quality modern shared-use paths for walking, wheeling and cycling.
- Four dedicated step-free bridges and crossings linking areas safely across the route.
- A continuous traffic-free all weather shared use path between Cummersdale and Carleton that connects with several other footpaths in the area creating a much-improved network of public footpaths.
- Landscaped green corridors creating pleasant and well-lit spaces for everyday journeys.
- Direct connections to schools, workplaces, and other amenities.
- Integration with Carlisle’s wider Active Travel Network, supporting healthier, lower-carbon travel.
Cllr Denise Rollo, Executive Member for Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places, said:
“The CSLR isn’t just about connecting roads, it’s about connecting people and communities. From day one, we’ve planned for walking, wheelchair and cycling to be part of the scheme, so that alternatives options to travel around our city are an easy and safe choice for local journeys.
“By weaving active-travel infrastructure into the design, we’re ensuring the new road supports how people actually move day-to-day, not just by car, but on foot, by bike and by mobility aid too.”