Skip to main content

New route slashes HGV Carlisle city centre through traffic by over third

The number of Heavy Goods Vehicles travelling through Carlisle’s city centre is estimated to have been reduced by more than a third since the new multi-million euro Carlisle Northern Development Route opened in February 2012.
August 17, 2012 Read time: 3 mins
The number of Heavy Goods Vehicles travelling through Carlisle’s city centre is estimated to have been reduced by more than a third since the new multi-million euro Carlisle Northern Development Route opened in February 2012.

Information from a network of 20 permanent and temporary traffic counters around the city showing ‘before and after’ CNDR road usage is said to be starting to build a more meaningful picture of the impact the new road has had on Carlisle.

Detailed information from the traffic counters is now available via an interactive pin map on Cumbria County Council’s (CCC) website at %$Linker: External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal www.cumbria.gov.uk/cndr cumbria false http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/cndr false false%>
It shows a marked reduction in both cars and HGVs along the main north to south arterial route through the city – the A7 and A595 – as an average of more than 10,000 vehicles a day use the new 8.25km/5.13-mile road.

Carlisle’s busiest stretch of road, the A595 at Castle Way, has shown a 16% reduction in all vehicles from 38,083 a day before the opening of CNDR to 32,050 afterwards (with a 41% reduction in HGVs from 6,860 to 4,060). Other city centre hotspots have shown similar reductions, with the A7 at Stanwix Bank showing a 16% reduction in all vehicles and a 32% reduction in HGVs.

CNDR is said by CCC to have quickly become a key route to travel between the south west of the city and the industrial areas to the north - a big factor for employers looking to develop good communications channels in areas ripe for commercial development.

As expected, there are higher levels of traffic on certain radial routes that have direct links to the CNDR. CCC says it has already set aside additional capital funding to counter this effect and also improve links to CNDR for pedestrians and cyclists along these radial routes.

A spokesperson for CCC warned that as road usage data can be skewed by a number of unrelated external factors, from the weather and the economy to what’s on telly, these new CNDR related figures need to be treated with an element of caution. Traffic engineers will carry out a more detailed traffic movement study later this year, which will also assess average journey times.

Councillor Tony Markley, Cumbria County Council's Cabinet member responsible for highways and economy, said: "Carlisle has embraced its new major road. Both commuters and industry in North Cumbria have quickly adjusted their travelling habits to get the full benefits from CNDR. This project has been a huge investment for the county council and one which will reap rewards for many years to come in terms of economic and environmental payback.”

Related Content

  • Tees Valley crossing project consultation nears an end
    May 9, 2019
    Public consultation is nearly closed for a possible new crossing across the River Tees in northern England that could cost upwards of €350 million. A €230-290 million Tees Viaduct Capacity Enhancement project is the preferred option against a €350 million Tees Viaduct option, according to the recently created Tees Valley Combined Authority, the local government. Capacity Enhancement project would see a two-lane bridge built parallel to the existing A19 viaduct to carry traffic travelling northbound an
  • Turkey’s Bosporus bridge opening
    August 25, 2016
    Turkey’s Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge over the Bosporus is having its official opening, which is being carried out by senior members of the country’s government including president Recep Erdoğan. The final sections of the deck structure were put into place in March 2016 and the project, which commenced in 2013, has been completed in record time. This is the third bridge to span the Bosporus at Turkey’s commercial centre, Istanbul and the new crossing will form part of the country’s North Marmara Highway pro
  • ZF chooses radial motor technology for its hydrostatic transmission
    January 6, 2017
    ZF has chosen a pair of radial hydraulic motors for use in its compact single-speed hydrostatic transmission, the 2HC85, which has been developed for compact wheeled loaders up to 100kW and 10.5tonnes operating weight. For high-torque start-up, the transmission sends oil to both motors and demands maximum stroke to travel from 0-16kph, before isolating one motor and then using 100% oil flow through the remaining motor to propel the machine to its maximum travel speed of 42kph. ZF said radial motors afford a
  • ZF chooses radial motor technology for its hydrostatic transmission
    April 18, 2013
    ZF has chosen a pair of radial hydraulic motors for use in its compact single-speed hydrostatic transmission, the 2HC85, which has been developed for compact wheeled loaders up to 100kW and 10.5tonnes operating weight. For high-torque start-up, the transmission sends oil to both motors and demands maximum stroke to travel from 0-16kph, before isolating one motor and then using 100% oil flow through the remaining motor to propel the machine to its maximum travel speed of 42kph. ZF said radial motors afford a