A Cumbrian MP has asked the Government to help minimise disruption due to be caused by work to replace eight M6 bridges in the county.
Tim Farron, who represents Westmorland & Lonsdale, said communities near the work – which will involve partially closing Junction 38 of the motorway for up to four years – fear it will cost them jobs and reduced profits for local businesses.
Work is due to start in 2027 on the six-mile stretch of the Lune Gorge.
Seven of the bridges carry the M6 itself as it snakes through the gorge while an eighth carries the local A685 road over the motorway near Roundthwaite.
National Highways said the bridges were reaching the end of their life.
Mr Farron is working alongside local councillors, residents and businesses to urge National Highways to reconsider their plans to partially close Junction 38 of the M6 for four years in light of the damage it is going to cause the community.
During a ministerial statement in the House of Commons on the UK Infrastructure 10-year strategy, Mr Farron said: “The Chief Secretary may be aware that a huge maintenance project is about to begin on the most beautiful stretch of motorway in the country, the M6 at Lune Gorge.
“Eight bridges under and over that motorway will need replacing in the coming years.
“Will he have a look at the resource that is being made available to mitigate the impact on the local community? The plan is to close the northbound exit and the southbound exit consecutively for three years, and to close the A685 bridge connecting Kendal to Tebay.
“Will he make sure that there is resource to ensure that there are temporary slip roads, so that local communities are not cut off?”
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said: “I am sure that the honourable gentleman makes a very good case, which ministers in the department for Transport will need to answer.”
Mr Farron also met with National Highways representatives in Parliament earlier this week to make the case for them to build temporary slip roads at Junction 38 so that residents are not forced to make huge roundtrips in order to get to work and school.
