An extensive facelift programme is on the cards for the M6 as it weaves through Lune Gorge in Cumbria, where eight bridge deck structures will be replaced. Motorists are bracing for potential delays as major renovations are announced for the first time in half a century along the key artery which runs from the Midlands to the Scottish border
National Highways has put drivers on alert, detailing plans to upgrade the eight bridges between junctions 37 and 38 at Tebay. One of these structures affords passage to the local A685 road over the motorway near Roundthwaite, while the rest accommodate the motorway itself through the scenic gorge.
Ranging from 46 metres to a considerable 142 metres in length, and standing between five and 17 metres tall, these bridges have weathered the transport needs of the region for decades. After celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2020, Lune Gorge’s section of the M6 is due a significant overhaul to address signs of aging infrastructure, with National Highways gearing up to conduct preparatory work next year, followed by the main construction work scheduled for 2027, reports Birmingham Live.
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Khalid El-Rayes, Senior Project Manager at National Highways, addressed the urgency of the upgrades: “The bridges that carry the M6 and A685 over the Lune Gorge in Cumbria are rapidly reaching the end of their serviceable life. When this section of the M6 was opened in 1970 no-one could have predicted the huge rise in domestic and commercial traffic, with thousands of cars, coaches, vans and HGVs now pounding the motorway daily.”
“That huge volume of traffic has taken its toll, but this project will ensure this section of the M6 plays a key role in connecting businesses and communities across the north and beyond for decades to come.”
National Highways stated that future-proofing the M6 at this stage is aimed at boosting safety for those who travel it and curtailing both costs and interruptions due to unforeseen maintenance and urgent repairs as the bridges age and their condition worsens. A bridge deck not only carries vehicle traffic but is also a critical element of the structural integrity of the bridge.