M6 bridge to be strengthened

A £2.6 million refurbishment of an M6 motorway bridge near Tebay in Cumbria will start next month.

The Highways Agency is spending the money on repairs to Tebay Bridge along the southbound carriageway of the motorway just south of junction 38. The bridge carries the M6 over the River Lune.

The six-month project will start on 10 June and will be completed by 30 November. Some preparatory work for next month’s project was completed in March.

The motorway will remain open at all times using a contraflow arrangement to run southbound traffic along lanes on the northbound carriageway while the southbound bridge is closed for the repairs.

Two lanes will run in each direction, with northbound drivers using the hard shoulder and lane one of the northbound carriageway past the roadworks.

For the safety of roadworkers and drivers, a 40mph speed limit, backed by safety cameras, will operate in both directions past the roadworks.

The project includes resurfacing the carriageway and renewing bridge deck waterproofing and expansion joints. Bridge concrete sections will also be renewed.

The work will be done in three main phases with two other phases overnight for the installation and removal of the contraflow traffic management arrangements.

Highways Agency project sponsor Mark Mosley said: "This is an important - if routine - repairs project to extend the life of Tebay Bridge and ensure users of the M6 can continue to enjoy safe, smooth and reliable journeys.

"The motorway will remain open at all times and drivers should only experience a short delay to journeys passing through the roadworks. We would like to thank drivers for their patience in advance."

Work to refurbish the northbound carriageway bridge is likely to take place next year.