Plans, projects and improvements

The asset management strategy, our annual maintenance and road surface dressing programme, replacing gas pipes, Carlisle Southern Link Road (CSLR), Network North funding.

Network North funding

About Network North funding

We have delivered additional resurfacing and other highways maintenance works using the 2023/24 and 2024/25 funding unlocked through the Network North plan. This investment was made possible through the reallocation of HS2 (High Speed 2) funding.

Work we have completed in 2023 and 2024

In 2023 and 2024 we have completed the following work:

Scheme nameWork typeArea locationMiles treatedCommunity supported
Gaist Footway SurveysFootway surveyCountywide697.80Various
Thursby Phase 2ResurfacingCentral0.30Thursby
Botchergate/London RoadResurfacingNorth0.24Currock
Ridley Road CarlisleResurfacingNorth0.25Currock
Cumwhinton DriveMini paverNorth1.00Harraby North
Borrans Hill, WeltonMini paverCentral2.40Thursby
Chapel Hill, BurthwaiteMini paverNorth2.50Wetheral
Moorhouse Ph1/Ph2Mini paverNorth1.90Bellvue
Station Hill, WigtonMini paverCentral0.80Wigton
Dunmail Drive, CarlisleMini paverNorth0.80Morton
Buckbarrow BridgeBridge demolitionSouth Corney Fell
B5345 Low Road, WhitehavenResurfacingSouth0.26Whitehaven and Coastal
Renewal of Traffic CountersTraffic dataCountywide Various
Outrigg, St Bees         DrainageSouth0.12 St Bees
Tree Road to TalkinrnSurface treatmentNorth1.4Brampton
Rockcliffe School to FloristonriggSurface treatmentNorth1.94Longtown
Walton to GarthsideSurface treatmentNorth1.41Houghton and Irthington
Lanercost to Kingwater House Surface treatmentNorth2.87Brampton
Milton to RoachburnSurface treatmentNorth4.54Brampton
Moor Cottage to Old School HouseSurface treatmentNorth2.68Longtown
Crown Inn to Beck HouseSurface treatmentNorth0.72Dalston and Burgh
Lambley BankSurface treatmentNorth0.82Wetheral
West Whitrigg Farm to B5307 Junction WhitriggleesSurface treatmentCentral1.86Wigton
Branthwaite to Kidburn GillSurface treatmentCentral2.49Workington
Newlands to SnowhillSurface treatmentCentral1.57Wigton
C2001 Dearham Surface treatmentCentral1.808Dearham
Uldale to Aughertee Surface treatmentCentral0.75Wigton
Pasture LaneSurface treatmentCentral1.77Wigton
Brownrigg to West Border FarmSurface treatmentCentral1.3Wigton
Smart Hill to SoutherfieldSurface treatmentCentral0.67Wigton
Southerfield HouseSurface treatmentCentral0.41Wigton
Cross Roads to Stank EndSurface treatmentCentral0.53Wigton
Southerfield Dykelands Gilcrux Surface treatmentCentral0.85Maryport
Birker Fell to Woodend Surface treatmentSouth0.22Millom Without
Birkby RoadSurface treatmentSouth3.1Millom Without
Birker Fell to High GroundSurface treatmentSouth0.25Millom Without
Kiskin to AnnasideSurface treatmentSouth1.54Millom Without

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 nameWork typeArea locationMiles treatedCommunity supported
Rickerby Park area (Swifts footpath)PatchingNorth0.60Castle area
Buckbarrow BridgeBridge renewalSouth Corney Fell

2024 and 2025 allocation - programmed delivery 2024 and 2025

Scheme nameWork typeArea locationMiles treatedCommunity supported
Overend Road, WhitehavenConcrete repairsSouth0.23Hillcrest and Hensingham
Thornton RoadConcrete repairsSouth0.07Hillcrest and Hensingham
Highfields, WhitehavenConcrete repairsSouth0.31Hillcrest and Hensingham
Structural RecyclingStructural RecyclingCentral1.5Various
Basket Road, KellsSurface treatmentSouth0.20Kells and Sandwith
Central Road, KellsSurface treatmentSouth0.28Kells and Sandwith
Rydal Street, FrizingtonSurface treatmentSouth0.19Cleator 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.