The lights in the Keswick to Threlkeld Trail tunnel have been connected ahead of news that the trail will officially be reopened to the community on 5 December, on the fifth anniversary of Storm Desmond.
No-one needs to be reminded of the devastation Storm Desmond brought to local communities, but it’s fitting that this trail will be reconnected, strengthened and made more resilient to future flooding events exactly five years on.
Works on the complex £7.9 million Keswick to Threlkeld project included rebuilding and repairing the five kilometres of the existing trail and reopening and extending the Big Tunnel. Additionally, two new bridges have been constructed and Rawsome’s Bridge has been repaired and strengthened. Around 200 metres of brand new path were created and river bank stabilisation, drain and wall repairs took place along the way to protect the trail and surrounding land from future flooding events.
Final preparations now are underway to mark the occasion in a covid-secure and socially distanced way. Lake District National Park Area Ranger, Cath Johnson said: “It’s very exciting to be nearly at the end of this project and be able to officially open the route and share the on-site interpretations with the wider community. We’d like to take the opportunity, once again, to thank everyone for their patience during the project and can’t wait to see the Keswick and Threlkeld communities enjoying this much-loved route once again.”
The Lake District National Park Authority is on track to successfully deliver the completed Keswick to Threlkeld trail thanks to a £7.9 million funding package from Highways England, the European Structural and Investment Funds, the Local Enterprise Partnership and community support from the Lake District Foundation.
