A section of Kirkstone Pass will close from Monday for the final stage of a multi-million-pound improvement scheme.
From Monday, until 5pm on Friday October 18, it will be closed so a new road surface can be laid from its junction of The Struggle, Ambleside, in a southerly direction to Greengate, Troutbeck.
The work is designed to make the pass safer and more resilient.
During the full closure, all vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists are not permitted to access the area and diversion routes will be in place.
Westmorland & Furness Council is requesting that people do not attempt to access the work site. Barriers will be placed on the site to ensure the safety of the public.
The impact of 14 adverse weather events and one severe snowstorm last winter saw the pass closed to all vehicles during the worst of the weather which made it impossible for contractors to fully complete the scheme on the south side of the route.
Crews will return next week to complete the remaining resurfacing work that will draw this part of the scheme to a close.
The council added: “The scheme has been undertaken in a challenging location, with the route being one of the highest roads in the Lake District climbing to an altitude of nearly 1,500 feet.
“It often suffers the impacts of severe weather and, due to narrow and restricted access, much of the work has required road closures, which have been carefully scheduled to minimise disruption and planned to avoid the busiest holiday periods.”
Kirkstone Pass is in the heart of the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and great care is being taken to ensure the current safety improvement works includes new infrastructure that complements the stunning surroundings.
Wooden-clad environment sensitive crash barriers have been installed as a part of the work. The barriers on Kirkstone Pass are the first of their type on a major road in Cumbria.
The full project has also included the building of new drainage and culverts, resurfacing, new lay-bys and signage and installing ‘catchpits’ to collect scree washed off the fells.
