Road diversion 'doubling' journey times - commuters

Cumberland Council said it hoped the roadworks on the A595 would be completed by the end of June

A chef has said her drive home from work can take up to four hours because of roadwork diversions.

Improvement work is taking place on the A595 from New Mill to Gosforth Crossroads in Cumbria with the route closed from 22:00 BST until 05:00 BST.

Julie Marshall-Thompson, who lives in Drigg, said she often does not get home to Bowness-on-Windermere until the early hours if she finishes a shift at 21:00.

Cumberland Council's assistant director of highways, Karl Melville, said the situation was "not ideal", but that it was not possible to complete the work with traffic lights because of the road's width.

Chef Julie Marshall-Thompson said she often does not get home to Bowness-on-Windermere until the early hours

The council said funding from the Government's Levelling Up Fund was being used to repair road networks, replace drainage, and refresh road markings.

Mr Melville said that the section between Calder Bridge and Gosforth was always going to be the most "difficult part."

He added that when choosing a diversion route a lack of A-roads in the county meant the motorway was the only suitable diversion.

Cumberland Council said it was working with local stakeholders, including parish councils, to try and minimise disruption

Mr Melville said that if "all goes to plan", the work should be completed by the end of June.

However, Ms Marshall-Thompson said she was "apprehensive" about the next phase of the roadworks, which would continue down into the village of Holmrook.

She said work in that area would make her journey home "very difficult."

Mr Melville said there would be local diversions in place for the Holmrook phase of the project.