Ash dieback in the North West

Ash dieback is affecting trees on the land we manage. We're taking action to slow its spread and make sure trees along our strategic road network remain safe.

Start date November 2025
End date Spring 2026
Cost TBC

Ash dieback is a highly destructive fungal disease of ash trees. It causes leaf loss, dead branches and canopy decline in infected trees.

We need to remove or make safe ash trees identified as needing urgent action on our North West woodland estate.

Our surveys have revealed large numbers of dead or dying Ash trees. These are a potential safety risk to people on or near our road network.

Find out more:

Project information

To reduce disruption, we 'll work mostly overnight (8pm - 6am) when traffic levels are lower.

To work safely, we'll use mixture of lane and slip road closures and temporary traffic lights. You can expect small delays while we're working.

Our work will cause noise but we'll try to keep it to a minimum.

We'll be working on:

  •  A66 near Chapel Brow roundabout
  • A66 between Penrith and Keswick

We'll use traffic lights during the daytime while we work.

We've yet to confirm details of this work.

We'll use lane and slip road closures. The M627 will remain open during works.

We'll be working at- 

Six locations along the M55 from Junction 1 to Junction 3 in both directions, including areas near:

  • M55 Rosemary Lane and Blackleach Lane westbound
  • M55 J1 eastbound off slip
  • M55 D’urton Lane eastbound

Two locations on the A585: 

  • A585 Colchester Drive / Portsmouth Close
  • A585 Fleetwood Road to M55 J3 eastbound on-slip

We'll use lane and slip road closures.

We've yet to confirm details of this work.

We'll be working at 14 locations along the M6 between Junction 26 and 36:

Northbound carriageway

  • junction 26
  • Gathurst Road, junctions 26 to 27
  • River Yarrow to Dawbers Lane, junctions 27 to 28
  • Dawbers Lane to Runshaw Lane, junctions 27 to 28
  • Langshaw Lane, junctions 33 to 34
  • Nether Kellet, junctions 33 to 34
  • Cinderbarrow Lane, junctions 35 to 36 

Southbound carriageway

  • Blea Tarn Road, junctions 34 to 35
  • Turners Farm, junctions 32 to 33
  • Potters Farm to Boundary Lane, junctions 27 to 28
  • Croston Lane to Town Lane, junctions 27 to 28
  • Runshaw Lane to River Yarrow, junctions 27 to 28
  • Ormskirk Road, junctions 26 to 27
  • Gathurst Road to Spring Road, junctions 26 to 27

We'll use lane and slip road closures. The M6 will remain open during works.

We've yet to confirm details of this work.

We'll use lane and slip road closures. The M60 will remain open during works.

We'll use lane and slip road closures. The M61 will remain open during works.

We will be carrying out tree management works at  of the M67.

We'll use lane and slip road closures. The M67 will remain open during works.

Documents

Traffic information

Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.

Contact us

0300 123 5000

X

Sign up for updates!

Keep up to date with what's happening on this scheme by signing up to our updates.

Find out more

Feedback