LOCALS have slammed plans for four years of closures of a major motorway, saying it will be a devastating financial blow to their towns.
Businesses based across the northern section of the M6 in Cumbria are concerned that lengthy repair works for eight bridges through the Lune Gorge will be catastrophic for them.
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The bridges – which National Highways said are nearing the end of their lifespan – are due to be repaired incrementally between 2027 and 2031.
While the road agency said it aims to “cause as little disruption as possible”, many local businesses fear they will lose money and customers as a result of the closures.
Mark Mawson, a dairy farmer with 300 cows, said he expects his farm costs to rise by around £200 a day.
He said: “A wagon comes in here every day so that wagon will have extra costs applied to it because it will have a detour on it.”
While some businesses accepted that the work needed to be done, the majority of the concern was over the prolonged timescale and the partial closure of Junction 38.
It’s the latter issue which is expected to lead to lengthy detours, potentially bringing customers away from businesses, reports the BBC.
Adele Shewan, operations manager at the junction’s truck stop at Tebay, said she feared diversions would put off the average 100 drivers a night who stop over at the site.
She said: “[Driving through the diversion] is going to be difficult because they’re under time restraints.
“If there’s a big crash on the M6, we’re the truck stop that they come to and they’re relocated to, and we’ve had over 200 trucks parked in here at one time.”
Seven road bridges carrying the M6 and one overhead bridge carrying the A685 have been lined up for the repair works.
All of the structures lie within a six-mile stretch of the M6 between Junctions 37 and 38.
National Highways said: “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.”
Adele said the impact of the closures would go beyond businesses, saying it would affect nearby villages such as Orton, Tebay and Kirkby Stephen.
She said: “Listen to the people, listen to what it’s going to do to our village. [We’re facing] four years of a child having to re-route to school.”
National Highways said it was working with local communities and businesses to minimise impact.
A spokesman said: “The bridges over the Lune Gorge were built more than 60 years ago and are near the end of their lifespan.
“This work is vital to keep drivers safe and maintain the structures for the future.”
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