Cumbria County Council are updating residents and businesses about the next phase of the Department for Transport (DfT) ‘Safer Roads Project’, which will begin in February on the Kirkstone Pass.

Starting in February 2023, the Safer Roads Project will continue on the A592. The project will focus on a 6.8km section of the A592 between Brothers Water on the northern end and Hird Wood on the southern end.

This road will remain open for most of the time, as the work will be coordinated by traffic lights.  However, there will be periods when the road will be required to be closed.  To complete the road closures as quickly as possible, our contractor will work every day, including weekends.

Repairs to the drainage system at Brothers Water are scheduled to start on 13 February, using a traffic light system.

The first planned closure is scheduled for Monday 6 March to 31 March, weather permitting.  This will be between Brothers Water and the Kirkstone Inn.  The Kirkstone Inn will remain accessible throughout this closure period via Windermere or Ambleside. A more detailed diversion route will be available in the coming weeks.

A second closure will take place in June 2023 to install the first part of the safety crash barriers.

To carry out resurfacing, a third closure will occur in September 2023.

As part of the final resurfacing, the road will be closed in March 2024.

Road closures will be weather dependent, and more information on road diversions will be available nearer the time of each closure.

Throughout the work local businesses will be open as usual, however please allow extra time if you need to follow the diversion route.

Residents and businesses are invited to attend a drop-in session, where plans will be on display, highlighting the proposed improvements in greater detail.  Officers from the county council and staff from Metcalfe Plant Hire Ltd, will be on hand to answer any queries that the public may have. The drop-in sessions will be held on:

• Tuesday 24 January 2023 at Glenridding Village Hall, Glenridding from 2pm-7pm
• Thursday 26 January 2023 at Marchesi Centre, Windermere from 2pm-7pm

For more information and to see the next phases, please visit the Safer Roads website.

Cumbria County Council would like to thank the community for their continued support and patience while they improve the highway network. Please accept the county councils apologises for any inconvenience caused by these improvements.

Cllr Keith Little, Cumbria County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said:

“We realise that some of the work plans will be disruptive for the community, but they are necessary to improve the safety of the A592 route.

“In addition to improving the standard condition of the road, the planned works will increase reliability and overall resilience of the route, and will make it safer, especially during winter.

“We want to thank the local community for their support during this crucial road improvement project and we would encourage members of the local community to attend one of the drop-in sessions on either Tuesday 24 January or Thursday 26 January, so that they can learn more about the safety improvement plans and timescales for Kirkstone Pass.”