M6 Lancashire and Cumbria border improvements to reduce flood risk
A £4 million National Highways project to reduce the risk of flooding along the M6 north of Lancaster will start on Monday (24 February) – providing safer, smoother and more reliable journeys for drivers.
National Highways is delivering a raft of drainage improvements and repairs between junction 34 at Lancaster and junction 36 south of Kendal.
The four-month scheme involves repairing parts of the existing drainage system, clearing blockages and improving the southbound roadside verge - ensuring water drains off the motorway more effectively. Sections of the central reservation safety barrier are also being repaired.
National Highways project manager Cameron Newsham said:
“Doing the drainage and safety barrier work at the same time means reducing future roadworks in the area – minimising inconvenience for motorway users. In any case, the motorway will be open to drivers at all times as we’ll be carrying out all the work by only using lane closures both during the daytime and overnight.
“While we are not expecting this work to disrupt anyone’s journey we appreciate drivers like to know what work is going on when they come across traffic management and lane closures.”
The drainage improvement and repairs are being delivered in three phases:
• Monday 24 February to Saturday 29 March involving overnight lane closures in both directions on small sections of the M6, starting just south of junction 34 to junction 35 (Lancaster to Carnforth).
• Monday 31 March to Wednesday 28 May requiring daytime and overnight lane closures on a section of the M6 between junction 35 and 36 (Carnforth to Crooklands) - with 8pm to 6am overnight lane closures in both directions between Monday 31 March and Saturday 5 April; 8am to 6pm closures of the southbound lane one from Monday 7 to Saturday 26 April; and daily 8am to 6pm northbound lane one from Monday 28 April to Wednesday 28 May.
• Monday 28 April to Wednesday 2 July involving round-the-clock closure of the southbound lane one between junction 35 and junction 34 including a 50mph speed limit along a short section of this phase of works. This phase also includes the 8pm to 6am overnight closure of the southbound entry slip road at junction 34 on Sunday 8 June with a clearly-signed diversion in place.
Most of the time the national speed limit of 70mph will remain in place past the roadworks. Traffic management will be removed from the motorway during the Easter bank holiday period - helping people on their long weekend journeys.
More information is available on a project webpage.
Notes to Editors
National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.
Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.
For further information please contact National Highways' press office (24hrs) on 0844 693 1448 and select the most appropriate option:
Option 1: National enquiries (9am to 5.30pm) and out of hours for urgent enquiriesOption 2: North West (9am to 5.30pm)Option 3: Yorkshire and North East (9am to 5.30pm)Option 4: West Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)Option 5: East Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)Option 6: East (9am to 5.30pm)Option 7: South East (9am to 5.30pm)Option 8: South West (9am to 5.30pm)
