Low Road Roundabout

Low Road Roundabout is a junction of the A66 and the A595 on the Cockermouth Bypass.

Low Road Roundabout and Papcastle Bridge

The westbound A66 multiplexes with the A595, with traffic heading for Workington and Whitehaven. The A66 eastbound (the exit in an SE direction) carries traffic towards Keswick, Penrith, and the M6 motorway. The northbound A595 takes traffic towards Carlisle, with traffic for Maryport using the A594 to complete their journey later on. The unclassified Low Road carries traffic into the western side of Cockermouth, passing the Aldi supermarket.

The roundabout has cycle crossings from Low Road, over the eastbound A66 exit, and up a cycle path that leads to the former A66, prior to the completion of the Brigham, Broughton Cross and Bridgefoot bypass, which is disconnected from this roundabout for motor vehicles. The cycle path here carries the NCN71 cycle route.

History

Upon classification in 1922, the present site was crossed by the A595 along Low Road, following the current NCN71 route to join Low Road through Brigham. In the late 1960s, the A66 was extended along this route, with the A595 becoming a submissive multiplex.

Low Road Roundabout from the A66 Keswick exit

However, it wasn't until 1976 when a junction actually became present at this site. The newly constructed A66 bypass of Cockermouth came to its western end here, bisecting the old Low Road route, now classified as the A595. However, instead of a crossroads at this meeting point, a T Junction was constructed, with access along Low Road towards Brigham being severed, meaning traffic had to travel westbound along the new A66 Brigham, Broughton Cross and Bridgefoot Bypass, multiplexing with the A595.

In 1991, with the construction of a western bypass of Cockermouth, a new roundabout was constructed at the site of the T Junction. The A595 was diverted along this bypass, bringing Carlisle traffic off Gote Brow and Gote Bridge. As a result, Low Road became unclassified, while the A66/A595 multiplex continued to the west.

Following the November 2009 floods and the associated increased traffic levels on the bypass due to bridge closures in the town centre, the A66 westbound approach was modified so that the left lane was for A66 westbound only, leaving A595 and Low Road traffic to use the right lane. These measures have remained in place through to the present day.

Routes

Route	To	Notes
A66	Workington, Whitehaven (A595)
A66	Keswick (M6)
A595	Maryport, Carlisle
	Cockermouth