Rail and road disruption ahead

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 plan alternative routes.

For a major bridge replacement project will take place in January.

Network Rail is replacing Clifton bridge which carries the West Coast Main Line over the M6 just south of Penrith.

As such, National Highways will be closing the busy motorway in both directions between junction 39 at Shap and junction 40 at Penrith from 8 pm on Friday 2 January and 5 am on Monday 5 January, and again from 8 pm on Friday 9 January to 5 am on Monday 12 January.

Around 50,000 vehicles use this section of the M6 daily.

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, added: “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 80 kilometres 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.”