A POPULAR bridge used by thousands every day is set to close for two weeks as drivers have been warned to ‘choose an alternative route‘.
Drivers are being advised to brace for two weeks of delays as a major route in Cumbria gets a much-needed facelift, leaving motorists scrambling for alternative routes.
The A66 Keswick bridge, a vital crossing over the River Greta near Threlkeld village, will shut down for extensive refurbishment from Sunday, September 15, until Monday, September 30.
The £350,000 project includes resurfacing 220 metres of the bridge deck and installing five new expansion joints, which help the bridge cope with weather changes.
National Highways, responsible for the repairs, has advised drivers to plan ahead and find alternative routes as traffic in and out of Keswick is expected to slow down.
William Paterson, the National Highways project manager overseeing the work, said: “The bridge is more than 50 years old, and over the last few years we’ve had to carry out a series of running repairs.
“This comprehensive overhaul will help provide safe, smooth, and reliable journeys along the A66 for decades to come and reduce the need for reactive repairs and the associated inconvenience for road users.”
He added: “We’ll be working as hard as possible to minimise disruption to drivers’ journeys over the two weeks, but some delays in and out of Keswick are to be expected.
“We advise people to check traffic conditions before setting off, leave a little extra time for travelling, or choose an alternative route.”
The refurbishment has been scheduled deliberately outside the peak summer holiday period to lessen the impact on traffic.
Temporary traffic lights will be used to help ease congestion, with signals monitored during peak hours to reduce waiting times.
Additionally, during overnight hours, a convoy vehicle will escort traffic through the closure.
National Highways added: “Subject to progress, which could be affected by poor weather, the traffic lights will be removed at noon on Fridays and not restored until Sunday evenings.
“This will reduce the inconvenience of roadworks around Keswick, which is especially busy at weekends.”
Adding to the travel chaos, the M62 is set to close overnight in both directions between junctions 19 (Heywood) and 20 (Rochdale) until Friday, September 20.
These closures, from 9 pm to 6 am, are in place to allow Network Rail to safely prepare for a new bridge installation later this month.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes, with significant delays expected.
Network Rail has also issued a reminder that the railway between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale will remain closed until the early morning of September 25, with rail replacement buses in operation.
Drivers are urged to follow clearly signed diversions instead of relying on satnav directions to avoid the worst of the delays.
It’s set to be a tough few weeks for commuters in the region, so plan your journey carefully and give yourself plenty of extra time.
It seems it’s not just motorists in the north facing issues.
A warning has been issued to drivers planning to use the Dartford Crossing this weekend face a series of overnight closures, as critical maintenance works get underway.
Elsewhere, a section of the UK’s busiest motorway is set to close across seven weekends as crucial roadworks get underway on a major slip road.
Hrelkeld Village: Closed from Sunday, September 15, to Monday, September 30, for bridge refurbishment.
M62 Motorway: Closed overnight between junctions 19 (Heywood) and 20 (Rochdale) from 9 pm to 6 am until Friday, September 20, for bridge preparation work.
Railway between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale: Closed until early morning of September 25, with rail replacement buses available.
