National Highways is hitting the road this month with a series of public information events across Penrith and the surrounding area, ahead of two full-weekend closures of the M6 in January.
The motorway will shut in both directions between junctions 39 (Shap) and 40 (Penrith) across the first two weekends of the new year – from 8pm Friday to 5am Monday – while Network Rail demolishes and replaces Clifton Bridge, which carries the West Coast Mainline over the M6. A mix of local and long-distance diversions will keep people moving while the work takes place.
To help residents plan ahead, 23,000 information leaflets are being delivered across the area, supported by a full programme of drop-in sessions where locals can speak directly with project managers from National Highways and Network Rail.
Upcoming events include:
- Mon 1 Dec, 6–7.30pm: Clifton Primary School, CA10 2EG (led by Network Rail)
- Tue 2 Dec, 9.30am–6.30pm: Eamont Bridge Village Hall, CA10 2BH
- Mon 8, Tue 9, Mon 15, Tue 16, Tue 23, Wed 24, Mon 29, Tue 30 Dec, 9.30am–5pm: Rheged Centre, CA11 0DQ
- Wed 10 Dec, 10am–7pm: Tebay Methodist Church, CA10 3XB
- Thu 11, Thu 18 & Mon 22 Dec, 10am–7pm: Kirkby Stephen Methodist Church, CA17 4SG
- Sat 13 Dec, 9am–4pm: Engagement van, Brewery Lane, Penrith, CA11 7FN
Steve Mason, National Highways’ programme delivery manager, said:
“We are working hard on a traffic management plan which will keep diverted traffic out of local villages and ensure everyone sticks to the official diversion routes. At the same time we want to ensure local people and services can access their own communities and experience as little disruption as possible. These public information events are an opportunity to find out more about the project and ask any questions about traffic management and other arrangements for the two weekend motorway closures.”
Keeping traffic away from rural communities is central to the strategy, with three major diversion routes planned:
- Northbound: via the A6 from J39, rejoining the M6 at J40
- Southbound HGVs: from J40 to the A1(M) at Scotch Corner via the A66
- Other southbound traffic: from J40 to Brough on the A66, then the A685 to rejoin the M6 at J38 (Tebay)
Special measures at Skirsgill and Kemplay roundabouts aim to keep traffic flowing around J40, with Cumbria Police supporting operations across both weekends.
Further details are available on the National Highways and Network Rail websites.
