M6 Lune Gorge structures
We’re looking at ways to carry out essential maintenance on eight bridges spanning the M6 in Cumbria.
Latest updates
-
19 June 2025
Preparatory works – Summer 2025
Following on from our previous update and engagement events, we’d like to thank everyone who came to meet the team last month.
Over the next couple of years, we’ll be undertaking preparatory works, on the M6, ahead of the main work phase. These activities are essential to help us prepare the road, manage risks, protect the environment, and ensure everything is in place to carry out the scheme safely and efficiently. Since we’ll be using a contraflow system during the main works, we need to make sure the M6 is strong and safe enough to handle traffic in both directions.
This work includes:
- strengthening the hard shoulder to carry full traffic loads
- resurfacing and reinforcing the existing carriageway
- installing supports in the central reservation
- adding netting to stabilise nearby rock faces
- installing new vehicle restraint safety barriers
The majority of this work (such as resurfacing) is routine and is work we carry out across our roads, it will also reduce the need for future interventions.
These works will begin in summer 2025 and continue until spring 2027.
Compound
Our other preparatory work in the Tebay area involves setting up our site compound in the Sidings Industrial Estate. Once fully installed the compound will include facilities such as site offices, storage for materials and equipment, worker amenities and safety stations.
What’s next
We’ll be holding more public events this summer to share further information about the preparatory works and our traffic management plans. We’ll share more information on these events on our website.
If you have any questions, please email our dedicated scheme inbox at: M6lunegorge@nationalhighways.co.uk
-
24 April 2025
Meet the team events
We’ll be hosting ‘meet the team’ events in Tebay, to share more information about the M6 Lune Gorge scheme. This will give you the opportunity to understand why it's important we do this work now, what's involved and to share your thoughts.
Our events are as follows:
- Wednesday 21 May 2025: 2pm to 7pm
- Thursday 22 May 2025: 12pm to 5pm
Location:
Tebay Sports Social and Railway Club
Church Street
Tebay, Penrith
CA10 3SPFind out more
For more information about the scheme, please visit our overview section. If you have any questions, please email our dedicated scheme inbox at: M6lunegorge@nationalhighways.co.uk.
-
17 January 2024
Survey work continues
We need to make further investigations to understand the condition of the M6 and its foundations. This will give us a better idea of how we can perform essential maintenance on the Lune Gorge structures.
We may need to make road closures while we're working. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our daily closures page.
Project information
The 8 Lune Gorge bridges
Travelling on the M6 through Lune Gorge, you might not realise you're driving on a series of huge bridges, ranging from:
- 46 to 142 metres in length
- 5 to 17 metres in height
Here are the 8 bridges we'll be maintaining in our scheme:
Castle Howe crosses the River Lune, forming part of junction 38 entry (northbound) and exit slip roads (southbound).
Galloper Well forms part of junction 38 exit (northbound) and entry slip roads (southbound).
Tebay crosses the River Lune close to the West Coast Main Line at the end of junction 38 slip roads.
Jeffrey’s crosses the River Lune close to the West Coast Main Line.
Roundthwaite crosses the River Lune and is the longest bridge in our scheme.
Lawtland House is the only bridge we’ll work on that crosses over the M6. It links to surrounding villages (A685).
Borrowbeck crosses the local access to Fairmile road and Borrowbeck watercourse close to the West Coast Main Line.
Highgill crosses over the B6257. It's the southernmost bridge on our project and and sits 5 km from Borrowbeck.
Modal with carousel
Castle Howe crosses the River Lune, forming part of junction 38 entry (northbound) and exit slip roads (southbound).
Galloper Well forms part of junction 38 exit (northbound) and entry slip roads (southbound).
Tebay crosses the River Lune close to the West Coast Main Line at the end of junction 38 slip roads.
Jeffrey’s crosses the River Lune close to the West Coast Main Line.
Roundthwaite crosses the River Lune and is the longest bridge in our scheme.
Lawtland House is the only bridge we’ll work on that crosses over the M6. It links to surrounding villages (A685).
Borrowbeck crosses the local access to Fairmile road and Borrowbeck watercourse close to the West Coast Main Line.
Highgill crosses over the B6257. It's the southernmost bridge on our project and and sits 5 km from Borrowbeck.
Overview
The eight bridges that carry the M6 and A685 over the Lune Gorge in Cumbria are rapidly reaching the end of their serviceable life.
We’re going to carry out essential maintenance to improve the lifespan of these bridges. This means they'll continue to provide a vital connection between the north and south of the United Kingdom.
The scheme is all within a six-mile stretch of the M6 motorway between junctions 37 and 38. Seven of the bridges support the M6 itself, while the other carries the A685 over it.
Locations of the 8 M6 Lune Gorge bridges.
We know millions of people rely on the M6 for business, leisure and visiting friends and family. It’s important we do this work now to remove the risk of unplanned closures on the M6 due to deterioration.
This will ensure the M6 continues to connect the region and helps it to thrive for decades to come.
What we've done so far
We've been developing our detailed design for the scheme and working out the best solutions. We're focussing on taking as little time as possible and minimising the number of closures we need.
Next steps
Summer 2025 to spring 2027 - preparatory work
We'll be preparing for the start of our main works. A lot of our preparations will be making sure the M6 is strong enough for the contraflow system we'll use during our main works.
Spring 2027 to summer 2031 - main works
We'll install contraflow running on the M6 and replace the bridge decks.
Replacing the 8 bridge decks includes:
- replacing bridge beams
- reconstructing the bridge decks
- other maintenance works on the bridge structures
Benefits
Enhancing safety
Our scheme will fix structural issues before they affect the motorway. We're ensuring the safety of the millions of drivers who use this route.
Minimising disruption
We'll plan and do our work to minimise its impact on traffic and local communities.
Our innovative design approach shortens the time we need by two-thirds. It would take much longer to replace these bridges individually.
Saving money
Upgrading these bridges now means we avoid more costly unplanned maintenance and extensive repairs in future.
Documents
Related Road projects
Traffic information
Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.Sign up for updates!
Keep up to date with what's happening on this scheme by signing up to our updates.
