Motorists planning to travel on a stretch of one of the UK’s most popular motorways have been urged to give themselves plenty of time, with National Highways announcing a lower speed limit. From Monday, March 31, the organisation will begin work on a three-mile stretch of the M6 in order to renovate the Lowther Bridge in Cumbria, and is likely to continue for the next two years.
Sam Whitfield, Project Manager for National Highways, highlighted that the renovation will ensure that the bridge is safe to use in the coming years, preventing sudden closures of the popular motorway. He explained: “Lowther Bridge is a vital part of the M6 infrastructure in this part of the motorway network and this significant maintenance and repair project will ensure it continues to serve motorway users for many years to come. If we do not act now, the risk is motorists will suffer from unplanned closures of the M6 and regular delays to journeys.”
Whilst the M6 will remain open, in order to conduct the repairs, National Highways will enforce a number of restrictions between junctions 39 in Shap to 40 in Penrith.
In particular, the stretch will be subject to a significantly reduced speed limit of just 40mph in order to keep repair workers and other road users safe.
There will also be some limited overnight closures of the motorway stretch, with drivers likely given a diverted route to circumnavigate the repair works between 10pm and 6am.
The renovation project will see a number of repairs conducted to the bridge, including waterproofing the deck and improving the drainage systems to help prevent large puddles from forming in adverse weather.
National Highways will also renew the central safety barrier and make repairs to the concrete used in the bridge’s superstructure and substructure.
The repair work will also see the road markings replaced throughout the bridge in order to make sure that traffic sticks to the correct lane.
Meanwhile, drivers travelling on the M8 motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh have been warned to expect delays throughout the spring due to resurfacing.
The stretch of motorway between Junctions 5 and 4A will be reduced to a single lane in both directions whilst the work is underway, which is set to take place from the end of March to the middle of May.
Other resurfacing projects are also taking place on the M8 in the coming weeks, including the Junction 3 eastbound slip road, with drivers urged to check for closures and restrictions before they travel.