National Highways defends handling of M6 closure
Network RailNational Highways has defended its handling of a motorway closure as a rail bridge was demolished and a new one moved into place.
The M6 between junctions 39, near Shap and 40, at Penrith, Cumbria, was closed over the past two weekends for West Coast Main Line works and vehicles were diverted through rural villages.
Chair of Clifton Community Council, Jonathan Davies, said the company "failed to deliver" on promises and that rural villages "felt the brunt" of the traffic.
National Highways said it had received largely positive feedback, but apologised for disruption and said it would learn lessons for future projects.
The motorway reopened on Sunday, earlier than expected, after the Clifton railway bridge was replaced with the new 4,200 tonne steel structure.
Some residents said the diversions "caused chaos" as the traffic ran through rural roads, and others said the diversion routes felt unsafe.
Davies said it had been a feat of engineering but "unfortunately we've had issues with the wider project".
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He also said Shap, Hackthorpe, Eamont Bridge and Kirkby Stephen and Tebay had experienced traffic issues, despite a permit system being in place.
He said a request for a safe viewing area for the bridge works had "never materialised", despite hundreds turning up to watch.
National Highways programme delivery manager, Steve Mason, told Radio Cumbria that police were in place to help with the crowds of onlookers.
Davies added: "We've ended up with traffic flowing both ways along the A6 which originally was only going to be one-way."
National Highways said it had allowed HGVs to travel on the A6 in both directions at quieter times so they could avoid the 230-mile (370km) diversion that took them into Yorkshire and down as far south as Manchester.
"It was still the quietest time of the year to close the M6," Mason said.
'Struck a fair balance'
Davies also said additional lighting had been promised for Clifton, but National Highways said it did not recall making this commitment and that lighting on top of the existing street lights would be excessive and would have impacted adjacent homes, footpaths and the road.
Mr Mason said: "We will review the arrangements we put in place but do feel we struck a fair balance between keeping diverted drivers on the move and minimising inconvenience to local people."
He added that National Highways had "learnt a lot" from the project, and that it was planning to meet to discuss learnings ahead of work on the Lune Gorge to repair more bridges on the M6.
Speed restrictions and a lane closure on the M6 would remain in place until early summer, as new embankments were planted and work on drainage was carried out, he said.
Meanwhile, Network Rail said work was under way on the railway itself to get it running by Thursday morning.
Replacement buses are currently running between Oxenholme and Carlisle, with a shuttle rail diversion running on the Settle to Carlisle line between Preston and Carlisle.
