Agencies are working together to make sure the final Dave Day weekend is safe and trouble-free weekend.
Thousands of motorcyclists are expected to arrive in Barrow this Saturday, 20 June, for ‘Dave’s Last Ride’ to celebrate the life of Hairy Biker and proud Barrovian Dave Myers.
Agencies including Westmorland and Furness Council, emergency services, National Highways and Barrow BID have met as part of a multi-agency group to ensure the safety of visitors and spectators.
They are advising that several routes into Barrow are likely to be very busy during the motorcycle procession on Saturday afternoon and have warned that a number of road closures and diversions will be in place in the town centre.
The route of the motorcycle procession into Barrow will be via the A590, turning left on to Park Road and proceeding to the town centre via Abbey Road, down Duke Street and parking in the Market Street car park at the rear of the town hall.
Market Street car park will be closed on Friday for the set-up and will be closed on Saturday to all vehicles except for the bikes taking part in the procession. The first bikes are expected to arrive around 3.30pm.
Barrow BID is managing the main events in the town centre, with grant funding coming from Westmorland and Furness Council and sponsorship from Team Barrow.
As part of the BID’s arrangements, crowd barriers are being placed on some of parts of the motorcycle procession route in the town centre, in areas likely to attract most spectators.
Anyone wanting to watch the bikers arriving in town in these areas are being strongly urged to remain behind the barriers for their own safety and the safety of passing riders. Please do not step into the road or try to ‘high-five’ the passing bikers.
The following road closures will be in place in the town centre to ensure the safety of Dave Day riders and spectators:
From 9am to 9pm on Saturday the following roads will be closed to all vehicles (except motorcycle riders in the Dave Day procession):
- Duke Street, Schneider Square to Market Street
- Market Street (full length)
- Lawson Street, Market Street to Cornwallis Street
From midday to 9pm on Saturday the following roads will be closed to all vehicles (except motorcycle riders in the Dave Day procession):
- Cavendish Street, Duke Street to Slater Street
- Cornwallis Street (full length)
- Duke Street, Ramsden Square to Cornwallis Street
- Dalkeith Street, Abbey Road to High Street
- There are no planned road closures for Abbey Road on the day of the event, but Abbey Road heading into Barrow will be reduced to one lane for all vehicles from Dalton Road junction to Ramsden Square from midday on Saturday.
Signage advising about the bike procession on 20 June is being placed on main routes into Barrow, including along the M6 and A590, in advance of Dave Day.
With so many visitors expected, the multi-agency group is warning it is inevitable that there will be increased traffic and some disruption on local roads, particularly during the afternoon of 20 June when the bike procession arrives.
On the wider road network, there is likely to be congestion around junction 36 of the M6 motorway, with the Dave Day motorcyclists expected to arrive in Barrow mid-afternoon onwards.
Motorists are advised to allow more time for their journeys and to plan ahead.
