Drivers and residents along the A66 in Cumbria have been spared the disruption of a mains water repair – after Highways England agreed with United Utilities to carry out the work during the £5m Eden Valley project.
Highways England is reconstructing and resurfacing the carriageway between Low Moor and Kirkby Thore as part of 7 separate improvements which are being carried out during weekend road closures between Penrith and Brough.
There have been 6 water leaks over the last 3 years affecting both drivers and residents along the A66 west of Main Street at Kirkby Thore. By making the most of Highways England’s planned closures, a new, 200 metre, £25,000 water main was installed at the weekend.
Highways England project manager Steve Mason said: “We’re laying new foundations and resurfacing along this section of the A66 and – apart from the disruption it would have caused to drivers and local residents – it would have been heart breaking to have seen what is a section of new road taken up within months for a new water pipe to be installed.
“When we were planning the Eden Valley work we spoke to United Utilities and they agreed to work with us and the new water main was installed during our weekend closures.”
The fifth of seven weekend closures of the A66 between Penrith and Brough is taking place this weekend with the road closing at 10pm on Friday and opening again by 3am on Monday.
More information is available on the project webpage and there is also a free text alert service – anyone wishing to sign up to that should send a text message from their device with the message ‘A66’ to 07860 048333.
Details of the diversion routes for HGVs are:
- HGVs to use the A69 instead of the A66 to travel between the M6 at Carlisle and A1 at Newcastle as the alternative M6 to A1 and A1 to M6, trans-Pennine route
- HGVs to use the M62 trans-Pennine route linking Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire as an alternative diversion further south.
Details of the local diversions being used include:
- the A685 Brough to Tebay route via Kirkby Stephen with current restrictions remaining in place (18 tonne weight and 14ft 6in height limits).
- the B6260, Appleby to Shap route via Orton with current restrictions remaining in place (18 tonnes except for access)
- the Bolton to the A6 route via Clifton
- a 7.5 tonne limit will be in place on the A66 from Appleby
Fuller diversion information is also available on the project webpage.
