Essential works are being carried out later this month to repair and restore parts of the historic Duddon Bridge on the A595.
The works will be carried out over five nights from Monday, 24 March and will require the closure of the bridge between 10pm and 6am on each of the five nights.
The work is necessary to preserve the heritage status and structural integrity of the bridge, which is a key part of the council’s highway network.
The project involves the restoration of the parapet walls, including some reconstruction and repointing, utilising materials that match the existing profiles and colours.
The work will be carried out overnight to safeguard the workforce and to avoid disruption to road users during the day. The closure times have been agreed following discussions with major employers including Sellafield, BAE Systems, HMP Haverigg and Furness General Hospital to minimise impact on staff travelling to and from work.
The road closure will be in place overnight from 10am to 6am from 24 March to 28 March inclusive, with the work scheduled to complete at 6am on Saturday, 29 March.
Emergency vehicle access will be maintained throughout the duration of the works, and all emergency services have been notified about the works.
The official diversion route for all traffic will be signed and available via the unrestricted sections of the A595, A66, M6, A590, and A5092. The junctions of Corney Fell and Smithy Lane will remain open.
A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council said: “The council recognises that this closure will cause some inconvenience; however, the overnight closure has been planned to try to minimise disruption and we have timed the closure in consultation with several major employers to try to take account of the busiest staff travel times.
“The works need to be carried out from the bridge deck to minimise environmental impact and ensure the contractor’s safety, and this requires the bridge to be closed while they are working.
“This is essential maintenance on a historic bridge to ensure the bridge and road remains safe for all users.’’
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