WERE THERE JOBS FOR LOCAL PEOPLE AND WORK FOR LOCAL FIRMS on THE PROJECT?

• Yes, 4 jobs were filled quickly at the start of the project, there's a demand for labourers onsite and subcontractors may also have vacancies, see our contractors and construction sections for more details on how to win business.Burlington provided large amounts of stone. 
  

WILL THE BY-PASS CREATE PRESSURE FOR OTHER LARGE SCALE TRUNK ROAD IMPROVEMENTS IN SOUTH CUMBRIA?

• No, the 3.8km route is the only section of officially recognised "severely substandard" and unimproved A590 between the M6 and Newby Bridge. The dual carriageway scheme will allow traffic from the M6 to use a modern road virtually to Newby Bridge, which is the gateway to Furness and Southern areas of the Lake District National Park.

• Around £35.3m, good value in terms of supporting the manufacturing & service industries of Furness, saving lives, and reducing accidents.  It fills a 'missing link' in the regeneration package currently available to Furness.

• Bypassing High and Low Newton will result in a new opportunity to recreate a traditional Lakeland Village community. A mix of landscaping, traffic management, new housing and business activity could be created, when the village is no longer divided by large, constant volumes of traffic.

• The route of the by-pass is protected for planning purposes in the Lake District National Park Local Plan.  High land to the east, rising land, land from the north and west and an approach over Lindale Hills means the landscape impact of a by-pass is very tightly defined, limited to a small area.  The physical landtake is only 60 acres.  High quality landscaping, bridges and a route that closely follows the existing road helps to avoid disturbing the tranquility of the adjoining areas of the National Park.

• Between 1988 and September 2003 there were 15 fatalities on the High and Low Newton stretch of the A590.  The 3.8 km route accounted for 20% of all the fatalities on the A590 (since 1988).  A by-pass will enable children, adults and visitors to move safely in the village by taking traffic away from the centre.  Dual carriageways and motorways are widely recognised as being amongst the safest roads in England.

• The A590 links a 'necklace of golden tourism attractions' from South Lakes Wild Animal Park in the West to Levens Hall in the East, through the Lyth Valley, Whitbarrow Scar, Grange-over-Sands the Edwardian resort, Holker Hall, Windermere Steamers, Haverthwaite Steam Railway, Lakes Glass Centre, Ulverston the market/festival town, Lindal Candle Centre, the Dock Museum, Piel Island and castle, Furness Owl Centre and the many attractions of Barrow.  A High and Low Newton by-pass will reinforce the potential of these attractions as well as opening up new opportunities in the West.

• It has not changed since 1937!
• It is the most dangerous 3.8 km of the whole 34 mile long A590.
• It is described by Government as a narrow, twisting, severely substandard, dangerous, out of date road.
• Poor existing road results in high levels of driver stress.

• Rail has only limited scope to meet south Cumbria's overall transport needs.
• Rail might take 3% to 10% of road freight of the A590.

WHEN WAS THE £35.3M FUNDING FOR THE BYPASS APPROVED?

• On 12th April 2006 by the Department of Transport Roads Minister The Rt Hon Stephen Ladyman MP.  In road building terms the cost is modest.

WHEN IS THE BYPASS DUE TO OPEN TO TRAFFIC?

• 8th April 2008 at 11.15am after the opening ceremonyat approx 12.30