[W]est Cumbria’s new £300 million pipeline project has been making such good progress at Bassenthwaite that the A591 is now open, just ahead of schedule.
United Utilities closed the main road at Dodd Wood on 30 October in order to lay the double pipeline in the carriageway. The closure was expected to last until Tuesday 12 December, and despite the inclement weather, engineers opened the highway yesterday, Monday 11 December.
United Utilities Project Director John Hilton said: “We have been working around the clock to get this disruptive piece of work done as quickly as we could.
“There’s never a good time to close such a key route however we scheduled the period between the Autumn half term holidays and the Christmas break. The team has really pulled out all the stops to minimise the inconvenience for local residents and businesses.
“I want to thank everyone for their patience while we carried out this crucial stage of the project.”
During the road closure United Utilities arranged a shuttle bus service to operate between The Old Sawmill tearoom at Dodd Wood and the Castle Inn to help residents who use the No.554 bus service. Normal bus services will now resume from today, Tuesday 12 December.
The pipeline laying work in this area will now be suspended until March 2018 when the heavy machinery will move back into the fields.
The West Cumbria Water Supplies project involves laying a new water pipeline from Thirlmere reservoir, around Keswick and on to the site of a new treatment plant at Williamsgate. From here the supply will split into two directions – a new pipeline will carry the water to a new underground service reservoir at Moota Hill in the north and then on to Quarry Hill near Mealsgate. A second new pipe will head south to a new service reservoir at High Leys and then on to Summergrove.
The project is expected to be up and running by 2022.
For further information about the West Cumbria Supplies Project please visit www.unitedutilities.com/Cumbria or call in at the drop-in visitor centre at 32 Lake Road, Keswick, CA12 5DQ.
