Bypass opens to ease traffic bottleneck

A bypass to ease a traffic bottleneck has opened after years of pressure from locals.

The A595 is the main route between Barrow and the north of Cumbria, but a narrow section in the village of Grizebeck, including a part which travels through a farmyard, regularly causes jams and delays.

A campaign group was set up by locals 13 years ago and in 2024 the government gave the green light to the construction of the new 0.8-mile (1.28km) stretch.

Now complete, Westmorland and Furness Council said the bypass would improve the safety of journeys and boost economic growth by helping people and goods move to and from Barrow.

The £27.4m scheme was awarded £23.3m by the government, with the council and the local enterprise partnership funding the rest.

Local Frank Rewaj has been campaigning for years and said: "The road wasn't wide enough for lorries, we've had people in the village needing ambulances and it couldn't get to them.

"This means traffic will be better, people's tempers will be better, deliveries will be sooner... it's something that's been needed for people to have an improved life."

A community walk was held on Thursday, allowing people to stroll along the route before it opened to traffic.

Local councillor Peter Thornton, who is also in charge of transport at Westmorland and Furness Council, said: "It's a main communication route in Cumbria... and as far as I know it's the only major road in the country which runs through a farmyard.

"There's a mile or so where its very narrow and we get lots of traffic jams.

"It is wonderful to see this new road opening and significantly improving journeys for the many motorists using this busy route."

He said without local pressure, "it probably wouldn't have happened".

"It's taken a couple of years to construct and I'm really pleased to say it's happening on time and on budget which is quite good considering all the things that are going on in the world."

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