Warning to avoid road 'hanging without support'

The section of the A592 in Cumbria is expected to be closed for months

A warning has been issued to motorists to avoid a severely damaged road which is expected to be closed for months.

The A592 was shut at Kirkstone Pass, between Troutbeck and Kirkstone Inn, on Wednesday after a landslip.

Peter Thornton, cabinet member for highways at Westmorland and Furness Council, urged motorists to avoid going to look at the damage, to prevent congestion at the narrow and steep road.

"The whole of the underside of the carriageway has disappeared, so the road is actually just hanging there with nothing supporting it at all," he said.

"It's quite difficult to turn round when you get up towards the bridge - the last thing we want is a whole stream of people going to look at it and clogging the roads."

'Very big job'

The LibDem-led authority said it was in the process of assessing the extent of the damage and coming up with a plan to repair it.

Thornton said this was "not something we could see coming" and said water got into ground around the road and "washed it away".

"It is a very big job," he said.

The A592 is the main route to Patterdale from the Ambleside and Windermere areas.

While a diversion will be in place via the A6, Thornton said he knew local people would be using a road known as The Struggle.

"It's called The Struggle for a reason - it's narrow, it's steep and it's difficult," he said.

But he added the council would ensure it had an "enhanced plan for gritting" to keep it open over winter.