Drivers planning to use the M6 through Cumbria during the first two weekends of the new year are being urged to consider delaying their journeys or avoiding the county.
Network Rail is replacing Clifton Bridge, which carries the West Coast Main Line over the M6 just south of Penrith.
National Highways will close the M6 in both directions between Junction 39 at Shap and Junction 40 at Penrith from 8pm on Friday January 2 and 5am on Monday January 5 and from 8pm on Friday January 9 and 5am on Monday January 12.
Around 50,000 vehicles use this section of the M6 every day.
These are the first weekend closures of the M6 in Cumbria in recent memory and National Highways is urging anyone who does not need to travel through the county during the two weekends to avoid doing so.
Steve Mason, National Highways programme delivery manager, said: “This is an essential Network Rail project to secure the future of one of the most important railway lines in the country and it cannot be completed without closing the M6.
“We’re urging anyone thinking of driving through this part of Cumbria during the first two weekends of the new year to delay their plans if possible. Anyone who does need to travel should plan those journeys carefully and stick to the official diversions or take routes away from the county.”
William Brandon, Network Rail’s project manager, said: “This ambitious project will provide a vital upgrade to the West Coast Main Line and improve reliability and journey times for passengers.
“While we close the railway to replace the M6 bridge we’ll also be renewing more than 80km of overhead lines and continuing our major modernisation of signalling systems.
“We appreciate passengers’ patience while this work is completed, and I would urge anyone planning to travel in this period to check National Rail Enquiries in advance.”
Three main diversion routes for through traffic will be in place:
- Northbound drivers leaving the M6 at junction 39 to join the A6 – rejoining the M6 at junction 40 via Kemplay roundabout
- Southbound HGVs leaving the M6 at junction 40 and being diverted onto the A1(M) at Scotch Corner via the eastbound A66
- Other southbound drivers leaving at junction 40 diverted along the eastbound A66 to Brough and joining the southbound A685 to rejoin the M6 at junction 38 at Tebay via Kirkby Stephen
During the M6 closures staff at National Highways’ regional operations centre near Warrington and traffic officers at Cumbria’s two outstations at Lowhurst near Carlisle and Millness near Kendal will be working around the clock to monitor traffic and clear any incidents as quickly as possible.
National Highways is running a free text alert system during the two weekends which is available by texting ‘M6 Clifton Railway Replacement’ to 07723 402 215.
National Highways has delivered around 23,000 leaflets detailing arrangements for the two weekend closures to homes in communities in and around Penrith in the last few weeks.
Public information events are continuing until the end of the month with 9.30am to 5pm drop-ins remaining at the Rheged Centre today, Wednesday December 24 and next Monday and Tuesday, December 29 and December 30.
