C1022 (Cumberland)

This article is about the Class III road numbered C1022 maintained by Cumberland Council.
For other roads numbered C1022, see C1022.

The C1022 is the all purpose alternative to the M6 between Carlisle and the B7076 just south of Gretna at the Scottish Border. Incidentally this is the junction where the M6 becomes the A74(M). Thus the C1022 serves non-motorway traffic that would have used the A74 prior to the closure of the Cumberland Gap. Consequently it carries part of NCN7, and connects with the aptly named NCN74.

Route

The C1022 starts at a traffic light junction with the A7 Kingstown Road on the outskirts of Carlisle. The north leg of the A7 here is a short D2 to M6 J44, whereas the south leg is an S2 into central Carlisle. We now follow Parkhouse Road, which used to be the A74 before it was dualled and diverted slightly to meet the M6.

We quickly meet a roundabout junction with the A689. The other side of this roundabout, we get a straight run of one mile that becomes derestricted halfway along its length, before we meet a TOTSO of the C1015 at Harker Bridge. We have priority, but the road multiplexes for 0.2 miles with the C1015 being the dominant number. We take the right turn towards Todhills, and we're now back on the C1022.

Another 0.6 miles, and we have another unusual feature - the back exit of an M6 DVSA checkpoint. We pass Todhills rest area without seeing a secret entrance, and then there's a back entrance to the on slip road - which seems to be a way for traffic from the checkpoint to rejoin the motorway.

1.7 miles more, and we now have another brief multiplex, this time with the C1016. This time, it's not a TOTSO. We turn left and then right 200 yards later. This next section crosses Metal Bridge after 1/2 mile, the same structure that carried the dualled A74, but now carries us and the northbound carriageway of the M6. Another two miles, and we now reach the end of the road, at a T junction with the B7076. A left turn here and you're across the River Sark and into Scotland. A right turn and you will meet M6 J45, with some emergency access slip roads serving the A74(M) - for it is here that the motorway number changes.