A COUNCILLOR has labelled the start of work on a multi-million pound road improvement scheme in Cumbria a ‘huge step forward’.

Work has started on the £23.3 million scheme to create a 1.4km single carriageway road between Chapels and Grizebeck on the A595.

According to the council, the ‘significant investment’ is expected to boost economic growth in the area by making journeys between Barrow-in-Furness and West Cumbria more reliable as well as improving the resilience of the A595 when used as an emergency diversion for the A590.

Council documents say the project will have a 22-month construction period which is programmed to finish in 2026 – but the contractual completion date is May 2028.

Councillor Matt Brereton (High Furness, Conservative) said: “The council has done a brilliant job in my view in designing and consulting on this road, and gone are the days where it was about pouring a certain amount of concrete and tarmac and just getting the road down.

“It’s a much more holistic approach now, making sure all the environmental and community impacts are properly considered.

“I’m hoping as an outcome of that we’ll see a road that is more than fit for purpose for the 21st century and beyond.”

The council say the two-year project is set to ‘significantly enhance’ the reliability of the A595, with access to the village for local communities maintained through the construction of a new overpass, and a dedicated underpass for agricultural vehicles to reach surrounding farmland.

Extensive ecological surveys were developed by expert practitioners as a part of preparatory works to identify wildlife activity and the presence of key species in the area to ensure their population continues to grow.

New junctions will also be introduced, bus stops improved and a safe, dedicated space for people to cycle, wheel and walk will be created.

Cllr Brereton told local democracy reporting service he is ‘keen’ for the contractors to continue to consult and liaise with residents as there’s ‘concerns’ about how road closures might be managed.

He added: “So far I’m very encouraged. All the feedback I’m getting from both the contractors and my colleagues on the council is that they’re going to take great pains to make sure it all goes smoothly and they’ll keep consulting with people.”

Cllr Brereton also said there are other areas of the A595 that need improving.

“We don’t rest on our laurels; we’ll still be looking to secure funding for improvements and safety monitoring on other stretches of the road,” he said.

“But certainly it’s a huge step forward. It’s really encouraging, it’s the first step in terms of building and delivering a new road.

“As I say hopefully those doubters that have quite understandably been a little bit pessimistic about when work will start will now be convinced that things are starting to take shape.

“Hopefully within a few months we’ll be able to start tracking progress with our own eyes – we’ll see the road emerging from the landscape.”