Highways Agency

The Project

The A74 between Carlisle to Guards Mill is the last "missing link" in the motorway network between London and Glasgow. This dual carriageway section of trunk road has several minor road junctions and therefore mixes relatively low-speed local traffic with high-speed trunk road traffic. It has a poor accident record and causes driver frustration, resulting from heavy goods vehicles using the outside lane of each carriageway. The upgrade of this section to motorway standard would bring the following benefits to road users:

• a reduction in the number of accidents on the route;
• the provision of more carriageway space for emergency services attending accidents;
• the provision of more carriageway space to enable traffic flows to be maintained following an accident;
• a reduction in driver frustration;
• an improvement in accessibility for users; and
• the provision of more predictable journey times.

The needs of local traffic and non-motorway users would be catered for by building anadjacent all-purpose road (APR) along the full length of the Scheme.

What's happened so far since the start of works?

The most obvious changes have been at the River Esk Bridge and Mossband Viaduct.

At the River Esk Bridge waterproofing and surfacing works have been completed. Traffic is now using the new Esk bridge.

At the Mossband Viaduct the approach embankments which will be used to carry the road have been completed. Settlement of the embankments is complete and carriageway construction is nearing completion.

At the new Vehicle Inspectorate site work is progressing well.

The works to divert BT cables and water mains along the new All-purpose road has been completed removing any old utility services from the verges of the A74 in readiness for the road widening works to take place.

Contraflow was put in place between Todhills and Floriston overbridges in January 2008 allowing work to take place at Floriston and Todhills overbridges. The work at Floriston overbridge is complete and work continues at Todhills overbridge to allow for the widening works.

Works have been completed on the retaining wall at Todhills for the provision of a noise barrier.

What's happening next?

Traffic is using the new River Esk bridge allowing work to commence on the repair works to the existing Esk Bridge.  

At Mossband Viaduct works will continue with the construction of the high level wing walls on the new viaduct. The first phase of traffic using the new Mossband viaduct will be from early June 2008.

The work to widen the carriageway is continuing between Junction 44 and Floriston overbridge and between Mossband and Gretna. The work involves constructing additional lanes, working on the central reservation and resurfacing. Widening and reconstruction of the southbound carriageway will be completed between Todhills and Floriston bridges by mid-summer 2008.

Works are continuing on modifying the access roads to both the northbound and southbound service areas at Todhills.

A 50-mile per hour speed limit has been imposed on the whole of the 5.8 mile stretch of the scheme. This was introduced on 1 October for the safety of the motorists and the workforce. It will be enforced by average speed cameras. The cameras monitor a driver's speed between two points and check the average speed to ensure the speed limit is adhered to throughout the road works. An order also came into force banning cyclists from this section of the road, with a clearly signed alternative route on the local road network.

The scheme is due to be completed by April 2009. The road will be open by December 2008.