'Bridge closure U-turn will avoid gridlock'

Catherine Parsley said the changes would reduce disruption

A U-turn to keep a motorway bridge open to limit disruption during a four-year long project has been welcomed by residents.

National Highways is due to close sections of the M6 in south Cumbria to repair seven bridges on the county's only motorway.

It reversed initial plans to also close Lawtland House Bridge, which carries the A685 over the motorway and connects Kendal to Tebay, after several complaints over lengthy detours.

"It will definitely help and then the whole of Tebay and Roundthwaite aren't actually gridlocked," said Catherine Parsley, owner at nearby Orton Scar Cafe.

She said she feared if Lawtland House Bridge had remained closed during the M6 Lune Gorge work, traffic would have affected the smaller roads to Shap.

"If that bridge is open, at least everyone can still get to Kendal and vice versa - it'll be so much easier," she added.

National Highways said it had listened to the community's feedback over 40 community engagement events.

The work, which is due to start in spring 2027 and last four years, will see seven ageing bridges between junctions 37 and 38 repaired.

Lawtland House Bridge would be repaired after this project is completed, the government agency said.

National Highways changed its plans for bridge repairs after consultating the community

Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron said he was pleased to hear of National Highways' decision, which he said prevented residents in Tebay from being cut off.

However, he said he was concerned about the impact of the planned closure of junction 38.

"We are now continuing to press National Highways to properly investigate building temporary slip roads at junction 38 to alleviate the enormous impact the partial motorway closure is going to have on the communities of Tebay, Orton, Grayrigg, Kendal and beyond," Farron said.

But National Highways' Adam Williams said temporary slip roads were not an option due to the cost, timings and environmental impact of building across the River Lune.

He added: "Junction 38 will be accessible for the duration of the project, apart from the occasional overnight or weekend closure where necessary for the safety of road users and road workers."

He said the body would continue to explore ways to keep the disruption to a minimum.