Work to make the Lake District’s Kirkstone Pass safer is set to start next month.
Part of the Government’s Safer Roads Project, contractors will work on a 6.8km section of the A592 between Brothers Water on the northern end and Hird Wood on the southern end from next month.
This road will remain open for most of the time, as the work will be co-ordinated by traffic lights, the county council said.
But drivers are being warned that there will be times when the road needs to be closed.
A spokesman said: “To complete the road closures as quickly as possible, our contractor will work every day, including weekends.”
Repairs to the drainage system at Brothers Water are scheduled to start on February 13, using a traffic light system.
The first planned closure is scheduled for Monday March 6 to March 31, weather permitting, between Brothers Water and the Kirkstone Inn.
The Kirkstone Inn will remain accessible throughout this closure period via Windermere or Ambleside. A more detailed diversion route will be available soon, the authority said.
A second closure will take place in June to install the first part of the safety crash barriers.
To carry out resurfacing, a third closure will occur in September and as part of the final resurfacing, the road will be closed in March 2024.
Road closures will be weather dependent, and more information on road diversions will be available nearer the time of each closure.
Throughout the work local businesses will be open as usual, however please allow extra time if you need to follow the diversion route.
Residents and businesses are invited to attend a drop-in session, where plans will be on display, highlighting the proposed improvements in greater detail. Officers from the county council and staff from Metcalfe Plant Hire Ltd, will be on hand to answer any queries that the public may have. The drop-in sessions will be held on:
- Tuesday January 24 at Glenridding Village Hall, Glenridding from 2pm-7pm
- Thursday 26 January 26 at Marchesi Centre, Windermere from 2pm-7pm
Councillor Keith Little, Cumbria County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We realise that some of the work plans will be disruptive for the community, but they are necessary to improve the safety of the A592 route.
“In addition to improving the standard condition of the road, the planned works will increase reliability and overall resilience of the route, and will make it safer, especially during winter.
“We want to thank the local community for their support during this crucial road improvement project and we would encourage members of the local community to attend one of the drop-in sessions, so that they can learn more about the safety improvement plans and timescales for Kirkstone Pass.”
