Highways Agency

• M6 Carlisle to Guards Mill Extension

The Scheme History

The Highways Agency appointed Carillion Construction Limited in February 2003 under the Highways Agency's Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) initiative, to take the scheme forward. This allowed for development and detailed planning of the works to be carried out while the scheme is taken through the statutory procedures.
 
Since the announcement and publication of the Preferred Route various changes have been made to the route that include:

• Shift of the off-line alignment closer to the existing A74 at Mossband to reduce landtake  and costs
• New River Esk Bridge moved closer to the existing bridge to reduce land take and cost
• New Vehicle and Operator Services Agency site moved southwards by about 150m to reduce costs
• Narrow central reserve on motorway between Mossband bridge and River Esk and locally  at Todhills to reduce costs
• The provision of an underpass under the proposed new motorway running alongside the  West Coast mainline to maintain existing access for DM Longtown and Mossband House.
• The realignment of the mainline, immediately west of Todhills Bridge to provide a better  alignment, and reduce interference with the local roads.
• Relocation of the All Purpose Road (APR) from the east to the west side of the motorway  between Todhills Bridge and Guards Mill.

The Highways Agency published Draft Orders under the Highways Act 1980 on 4th February 2005. These seek the powers necessary to acquire the land and build the scheme. The public had a chance to comment on the draft Orders describing the proposals up to 31st March 2005. A Draft Compulsory Purchase Order was also published on 4th March 2005 with the objection period ending on 31st March 2005

Following receipt of a number of objections it was decided that a Public Inquiry (PI) should beheld in front of an Independent Inspector. A Pre Inquiry Meeting was held at the PI venue, Solway Business Centre, Parkhouse Road, Kingstown, Carlisle, Cumbria on the 9th August 2005 during which the appointed Inspector set out the way the inquiry would be conducted and explained to all parties concerned the procedures to be followed.

The PI took place at Solway Business Centre, Parkhouse Road, Carlisle on Tuesday 27th September 2005. It lasted for a total of 5 sitting days during which time evidence was heard from both the representatives of the Highways Agency, supporters of the scheme and from various objectors. The PI closed on Tuesday 11th October 2005.

The Secretary Of State announced his decision on 23rd March 2006. The decision was taken following the receipt of the Inspectors Report to make the four published Orders and one Scheme Order subject to modifications to the Compulsory Purchase Order. These will authorise the construction of the proposed scheme.

Copies of the decision letter and the Inspector's report are available on the Department of Transport's website www.dft.gov.uk

Given the favourable decision, the Highways Agency made the Scheme and associated Orders on 28th April 2006. Two Public Notices were published in the London Gazette, The Cumberland News and in the Dumfries and Galloway Standard on 28th April 2006 confirming that the Scheme and associated Orders had been made and commencing the 6-week High Court Challenge period. This ended on 9th June 2006 with no challenges having been made.

A turf cutting ceremony undertaken by Douglas Alexander, the Secretary for Transport and Scotland took place on 25th July 2006 shortly after the official start of construction on 3rd July 2006.