Drivers are being reminded that the next scheduled closure of an iconic Lakeland pass will start next week, as work continues to complete a multi-million pound road safety scheme.
Kirkstone Pass will be closed for the planned works from Monday, 4 March, until Thursday, 28 March.
During this full closure, the road will undergo a complete closure which means that vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists are not permitted to access the area and diversion routes will be in place. The Council is requesting that people do not attempt to access the work site. As part of the commitment to maintaining a secure environment, barriers will be placed on the site to ensure the safety of the public.
Councillor Peter Thornton, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet member for Highways and Assets, said: “Kirkstone Pass climbs to an altitude of nearly 1,500 feet and is one of the highest roads in the Lake District, so it really does feel the full impact of any bad weather and we’ve had our fair share of that recently.
“That’s exactly why we are carrying out this programme of works on this very important road, to ensure the pass will be safer, in better condition and will be better protected from flooding and other weather-related impacts, so will be less prone to winter closures in the future.
“All that is good news for the local communities and businesses that rely on this route and for the many people who visit the area to appreciate that natural beauty.
“Throughout this scheme we have been working closely with the local community and businesses in the area to try to minimise disruption caused by this essential safety work, and I want to thank them for their continued support and patience.”
Despite the recent bad weather, progress on the scheme has managed to continue in recent weeks and the majority of the new wooden-clad environment sensitive crash barriers are now in place.
The barriers on Kirkstone Pass will be the first of their type on a major road in Cumbria.
Kirkstone Pass is in the heart of the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and great care is being taken to ensure the current safety improvement works includes new infrastructure that complements the stunning surroundings.
The work to install the new barriers is part of the latest phase of the scheme, along with drain repairs.
The full project also includes building new drainage and culverts, resurfacing, new lay-bys and signage and installing ‘catchpits’ to collect scree washed off the fells.
