National Highways, the UK government-owned agency, will commence a £9m ($11.6m) refurbishment project on the M6 bridge over the River Lowther in Cumbria, on 31 March 2025.
The two-year initiative aims to upgrade the bridge, which is located between junctions 39 and 40 of the M6, south of Penrith.
The refurbishment work on the bridge will involve repairs to the deck’s superstructure and substructure, encompassing concrete repairs, re-waterproofing, resurfacing, and renewal of the central reservation barrier.
Additionally, the bridge’s joints, which aid structural integrity during varying weather conditions, will be replaced.
To minimise disruption, the motorway will remain operational throughout the project, maintaining two lanes open in both directions during the day and one lane in each direction overnight.
Some overnight closures will take place for setting up or removing traffic management systems.
The traffic management for this project will be coordinated with Network Rail’s efforts to replace the nearby Clifton bridge, which is situated approximately three-quarters of a mile south of the Lowther bridge and carries the west coast mainline over the motorway.
National Highways project manager Sam Whitfield said: “Lowther bridge is a vital part of the M6 infrastructure in this part of the motorway network and this significant maintenance and repair project will ensure it continues to serve motorway users for many years to come.
“While this is not a quick project, we’re doing all we can to minimise any inconvenience to commuters, hauliers, holidaymakers and other motorway users -including coordinating activities and sharing traffic management with Network Rail who’ll also be in the area working to replace [the] nearby Clifton bridge over the next 18 months.”
Last December, the A64 resurfacing trial in the UK set a new standard in sustainable road construction, reducing carbon emissions by 75% without relying on carbon offsetting.
The project was a collaborative effort between Tarmac, a sustainable building materials and construction solutions business, and National Highways, along with its supply chain partners.
