Drivers have been warned to expect delays on a busy motorway as work is completed to replace a bridge for the first time in seven decades.
The M6 in Cumbria faces lane closures starting this month as preparations begin for the major railway bridge replacement project.
The disruption will impact a three-mile stretch south of Junction 40 near Penrith, where National Highways has implemented traffic management measures.
The restrictions come as Network Rail prepares to replace the ageing Clifton Bridge, which carries the West Coast Main Line over the motorway.
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M6 bridge restructure will cause lane closures on certain junctions of the motorway
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
Currently, the 71-year-old structure can only handle one train at a time, causing delays for both passenger and freight services.
The £60million project will see the bridge completely demolished and rebuilt during a two-week period in January 2026.
Network Rail engineers have already arrived on site to establish a construction compound for the extensive works. National Highways said that it will be supporting the project by building an access road to the work site.
The replacement is essential as the bridge has reached the end of its life, spanning 135 metres across the busy motorway, the agency explained.
In preparation for the changes, from late January until the end of the project, drivers will see a reduced number of lanes on the northbound M6.
The lane closures are necessary to allow construction teams safe access to the work site. Additional traffic management measures will be implemented at various stages throughout the project.
Network Rail sponsor Olivia Boland said: “We are rebuilding Clifton bridge over the M6 to keep rail passengers and motorway users safe for years to come.
“This project is essential as the bridge has reached the end of its life. We’re working with National Highways to make sure we can carry out our work as safely as possible with as little inconvenience to local people and the travelling public.”
Steve Mason, National Highways programme delivery manager, added: “This is an essential Network Rail project to secure the future of one of the most important railway lines in the country.
“We’ll be working closely with Network Rail throughout to keep motorway users and local people up to date with developments.”
The first closure will run from the evening of Friday, January 2, until the morning of Monday, January 5, 2026. A second shutdown will take place the following weekend, from Friday, January 9 to Monday, January 12.
During the same period, the railway line will close for two weeks to allow for the bridge demolition and replacement work.
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The M6 will face disruptions into 2026 while work by National Highways gets underway
PA
Similar bridge replacement work was successfully completed by Network Rail and National Highways in the autumn of 2024, when they replaced a railway bridge over the M62 near Rochdale.
