Plans, projects and improvements

The asset management strategy, our annual maintenance and road surface dressing programme, the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project, replacing gas pipes, A592 safety improvements, Network North funding.

Network North funding

About Network North funding

We are highlighting additional resurfacing and other highways maintenance work that we will be delivering with the new 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025 funding unlocked from the Network North plan.  This has been made possible by reallocated HS2 funding (High Speed 2).

Work we have completed in 2023 and 2024

In 2023 and 2024 we have completed the following work:

Scheme name Work type Area location Miles treated Community supported
Gaist Footway Surveys Footway survey Countywide 697.80 Various
Thursby Phase 2 Resurfacing Central 0.30 Thursby
Botchergate/London Road Resurfacing North 0.24 Currock
Ridley Road Carlisle Resurfacing North 0.25 Currock
Cumwhinton Drive Mini paver North 1.00 Harraby North
Borrans Hill, Welton Mini paver Central 2.40 Thursby
Chapel Hill, Burthwaite Mini paver North 2.50 Wetheral
Moorhouse Ph1/Ph2 Mini paver North 1.90 Bellvue
Station Hill, Wigton Mini paver Central 0.80 Wigton
Dunmail Drive, Carlisle Mini paver North 0.80 Morton
Buckbarrow Bridge Bridge demolition South   Corney Fell
B5345 Low Road, Whitehaven Resurfacing South 0.26 Whitehaven and Coastal
Renewal of Traffic Counters Traffic data Countywide   Various

2023 and 2024 allocation - programmed delivery 2024 and 2025

In 2024 and 2025 using the additional funding we will be completing the following additional schemes by March 2025:

Scheme name Work type Area location Miles treated Community supported
Rickerby Park area (Swifts footpath) Patching North 0.60 Castle area
Buckbarrow Bridge Bridge renewal South   Corney Fell
Outrigg, St Bees Drainage South 0.12 St Bees

2024 and 2025 allocation - programmed delivery 2024 and 2025

Scheme name Work type Area location Miles treated Community supported
Tree Road to Talkin Tarn Surface treatment North 1.40 Brampton
Rockcliffe School to Floristonrigg Surface treatment North 1.94 Longtown
Walton to Garthside Surface treatment North 1.41 Houghton and Irthington
Lanercost to Kingwater House Surface treatment North 2.87 Brampton
Milton to Roachburn Surface treatment North 4.54 Brampton
Moor Cottage to Old School House Surface treatment North 2.68 Longtown
Crown Inn to Beck House Surface treatment North 0.72 Dalston and Burgh
Lambley Bank Surface treatment North 0.28 Wetheral
West Whitrigg Farm to B5307 Junction Whitrigglees Surface treatment Central 1.86 Wigton
Branthwaite to Kidburn Gill Surface treatment Central 2.49 Workington
Newlands to Snowhill Surface treatment Central 1.57 Wigton
Prior Hall Surface treatment Central 1.10 Wigton
Uldale to Aughertee Surface treatment Central 0.75 Wigton
Pasture Lane Surface treatment Central 1.77 Wigton
Brownrigg to West Border Farm Surface treatment Central 1.30 Wigton
Bolton Low Houses Surface treatment Central 0.25 Wigton
Smart Hill to Southerfield Surface treatment Central 0.67 Wigton
Southerfield House Surface treatment Central 0.41 Wigton
Cross Roads to Stank End Surface treatment Central 0.53 Wigton
Southerfield Dykelands Gilcrux Surface treatment Central 0.85 Maryport
Structural Recycling Structural recycling Central 1.50 Various
Overend Road, Whitehaven Concrete repairs South 0.23 Hillcrest and Hensingham
Thornton Road Concrete repairs South 0.07 Hillcrest and Hensingham
Highfields, Whitehaven Concrete repairs South 0.31 Hillcrest and Hensingham
Birker Fell to Woodend Surface treatment South 0.22 Millom Without
Birkby Road Surface treatment South 3.10 Millom Without
Birker Fell to High Ground Surface treatment South 0.25 Millom Without
Kiskin to Annaside Surface treatment South 1.54 Millom Without
Basket Road, Kells Surface treatment South 0.20 Kells and Sandwith
Central Road, Kells Surface treatment South 0.28 Kells and Sandwith
Rydal Street, Frizington Surface treatment South 0.19 Cleator Moor East and Frizington

This means we will be able to resurface an additional 49 miles and provide improvements to an additional 746 miles overall.

Innovation

We have used innovation delivery methods by utilising an in-situ recycling and encapsulating process to rejuvenate rural roads in Cumberland. This involves the in-situ recycling of the existing carriageway with specialist cold treatment recyclers which pulverise and re-engineer the existing road materials and introduce road planings removed out of traditionally repaired roads elsewhere in the area. 

Evolved rural roads often have poor foundations and insufficient depths of granular material, so imported material can make up for this lack of volume and contribute to the re-construction process. The imported material is mixed with the existing carriageway to form part of a hydraulically bound layer.

By adding road planings to the proposed site for recycling, the roads will benefit from the additional granular material and material which would have otherwise have been taken to tip at significant cost will be put safely to good use,  encapsulated within the HBM. 

We have worked with the Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) to invest in a programme of works to tackle known issues with concrete road surfaces using a process known as “Milepave”. Milepave is a reduced carbon surfacing process using less resources, lower mixing temperatures, lower energy resources and a lower bitumen content than conventional asphalt surfacing materials.

The work involves plaining the existing concrete road surface to remove any minor defects and to re-profile the surface, renewal of ironworks before applying a warm mix asphalt surface. Finally, an asphaltic grout is applied to the surface to seal against any water ingress – this secondary sealing of the surface course prevents fretting, reduces the speed of oxidation, and reinforces surface strength. 

By using the “Milepave” process we will have the ability to deliver a carbon neutral surfacing scheme and ensure that no Indirect Emissions are attributable to the Council, supporting our work to meet our carbon and net zero targets.

Work Coordination

We make S58 restrictions in accordance with Department for Transport (DfT) guidance, these restrictions are logged on Street Manager, therefore giving utility companies the opportunity to carry out any works they have planned in the vicinity prior to the restriction being in force.  
  
A S58 notice does not protect the highway in the event of urgent or emergency works, or the provision of a service to a property, for example a new water supply. However, the Streetworks team do negotiate with the utilities regarding half or full width reinstatement of any opening, although with no legislation in force to support any process for half/full width, or “extended footprint” reinstatement this is generally carried out as a goodwill gesture by the utility companies. 

Funding  

The total amount of investment in the maintenance of our local highway network over the last 5 years was:  

  • 2019 to 2020 £26.329m
  • 2020 to 2021 £26.329m 
  • 2021 to 2022 £26.329m 
  • 2022 to 2023 £26.329m 
  • 2023 to 2024 £20.3m

Prior to 1 April 2023, the allocations stated were for Cumbria County Council.

Since 1 April 2023, the allocation stated was to Cumberland Council following Local Government Reorganisation.