By James Johnson

Last updated at 18:35, Friday, 22 March 2013

Speed limits on three roads being used as rat-runs near Carlisle’s western bypass are being reduced to improve safety.

The 'bypass' has cut congestion on Scotland Road and Kingstown Road

Sections of Moorhouse Road, Orton Road and Sandsfield Road will see their speed limit reduced from 40mph to 30mph after concerns were raised with Cumbria County Council. Councillors this week supported a recommendation to make the changes following talks with Belle Vue residents.

Although the bypass, opened a year ago, has dramatically cut traffic levels and travel times on Scotland Road and Kingstown Road, some people in the west of the city say the knock-on effect of the Carlisle Northern Development Route’s (CNDR) opening has been for more vehicles past their homes.

Members of the local committee for Carlisle agreed the speed limit should be reduced from 40mph to 30mph on Moorhouse Road, Orton Road and Sandsfield Road between the bypass roundabout and the 30-40mph sections.

Councillor John Mallinson said: “The CNDR is a very positive thing but there are consequences, sometimes foreseen but others unforeseen.

“It needs to be watched very carefully to make sure we have got it right.

“We don’t want the concept to fall into disrepute.”

It was revealed last month that the bypass has resulted in three million fewer journeys along Eden Bridge, Carlisle’s busiest stretch of road. But residents in other areas of the city have raised concerns about the effect the change in traffic has had.

There have been suggestions that although the traffic levels on Brampton Road have dropped, vehicles still using it are more likely to exceed the speed limit.

Councillor Ian Stockdale also suggested the possibility of a footpath from Orton Road to the CNDR.

He said: “Quite a lot of walkers come down that stretch and it’s a difficult, dangerous piece of road.”

Commuters crossing the city have reported quicker journeys, with some cutting 30 minutes off their travel time.

As well as traffic benefits, there have been suggestions that the bypass will also provide an ecomonic boost.

Executives at Kingmoor Park, through which part of the bypass runs, are said to be confident that new commercial developments will spring up at the site as a result of the improved communications.

Since the bypass opened the number of journeys over Eden Bridge, near Hardwicke Circus, has dropped from 15.8 million to 12.8 million a year. More than 4.4 million trips have been made along the 5.1-mile link from junction 44 of the M6 at Kingstown to the A595 at Newby West in its first year

The road was built as part of a £176m private finance deal spearheaded by the county council.

First published at 14:49, Friday, 22 March 2013
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk