Plans, projects and improvements

The asset management strategy, our annual maintenance and road surface dressing programme, Network North resurfacing funding, the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project, replacing gas pipes, A592 and A684 safety improvements, Langwathby Bridge.

Safer roads - A592

In Summer 2018, the Council were granted £7.4 million from the Department for Transport (DfT) to upgrade and improve the safety of the A592 from Windermere to the A66 near Rheged.

Since 2018, the Council has undertaken extensive survey works on the A592 route to identify where and how best to invest the funding in the highway and to improve road safety.

Following design development work, a number of individual resurfacing schemes were completed late January 2023 supporting the next phase of the Programme.

Kirkstone Pass works

This next key stage of work on the A592 is between Windermere and Rheged on Kirkstone Pass. These improvements began in early February 2023 with the bulk of the work concluding in July 2024.  This was by the far the most challenging aspect of the planned work on the A592 owing to the location, the geography, the steepness of the route and the susceptibility to weather conditions.

The duration and timescale for completion of all the proposed works on Kirkstone Pass takes account of the scope, the scale and complexity. The planned completion date is likely to be Friday 18 October 2024. Further details are provided in frequently asked questions and points below.

The below maps highlight the location of the planned work:

Image
Kirkstone Pass Works map

Scheme extent using what3words:
Start of A592 works (north end): Brother’s Water: desktop.activates.risks
End of A592 works (south end): Hird Wood: sapping.pinches.myth

Frequently asked questions and points

A592 Kirkstone Pass - Patterdale to Troutbeck FAQs (PDF 250KB)

Road closure dates:
Dates Duration Temporary Traffic Management Arrangements (including planned works)
13/02/23 onwards 3 weeks Daytime Traffic Signals
(CCTV surveys, drain repairs, retaining wall repairs, new signs, carriageway haunching + other works)
06/03/23 onwards 4 weeks Full Road Closure No. 1
(new drainage crossings and associated works, carriageway resurfacing works, boundary wall repairs)
05/06/23 onwards 4 weeks Full Road Closure No. 2
(safety barrier works)
03/07/23 Approx. 2 weeks Overnight road closures from 9pm until 7am
02/10/23 onwards 3 weeks Full Road Closure No. 3
(carriageway reconstructions and patching)
04/03/24 Until 28 March 2024 Full Road Closure No. 4
(Completion of civils work)
30/10/23 Approx. 3 weeks Overnight road closures from 9pm until 7am
06/12/23 Approx. 2 weeks Overnight road closures from 9pm until 7am
03/01/24 Approx. 2½ weeks Overnight road closures from 9pm until 7am
16/04/24 2 weeks Full Road Closure No. 5
(carriageway resurfacing on the North side of the Pass)
01/05/2024 1 day The contractor has experienced two lost working days due to poor weather over the course of the last 2 weeks which has significantly impacted on the tonnage of material that needed to be laid. The contractor will therefore require an additional day’s closure to conclude the remaining surfacing and complete the North side fully.
07/10/24 2 weeks Full road closure No. 6 (carriageway construction)

A592 Temporary diversion route: (during both the full road closures as well as overnight road closures)

Image
Diversion Route for Kirkstone

Kirkstone Pass A592 safer roads improvements update - June 2023 - YouTube

A592 Kirkstone Pass safer roads improvements flyover video

Kirkstone Pass Road Safety Improvements Works - Drone Footage from Metcalfes (YouTube)