Concerns over the ongoing diversion of M6 traffic along the A6 have intensified after a broken-down HGV in Clifton caused serious safety issues during the latest closure of the M6 on Monday night and resulted in significant damage to historic cobblestones alongside the A6.
National Highways closed the M6 northbound between Junction 39 (Shap) and Junction 40 (Penrith) from 10pm on Monday evening until 6am this morning as part of planned works on Clifton railway bridge and Lowther Bridge. As soon as the closure came into force, heavy traffic began diverting through Clifton via the A6.
Just before midnight, a northbound HGV broke down on a sharp bend at the northern end of Clifton, near the church. The stranded vehicle blocked the carriageway, resulting in significant tailbacks and forcing motorists to mount the kerb and pass on a blind bend, driving directly into the path of oncoming traffic. Residents described the situation as “dangerous” and “inevitable” given the volume of diverted vehicles.
The overnight traffic surge has also caused noticeable damage to historic cobblestones beside the A6 in the village, with stones dislodged and disturbed by passing vehicles.
Monday’s closure formed part of a three-day programme of overnight works. The M6 was also closed on Saturday night, and a southbound closure is scheduled again tonight (Tuesday 25 November) between 10pm and 6am.
Further disruption is expected early next year. National Highways has confirmed that the replacement of the railway bridge at Clifton will require two full weekend closures of the M6 in January, with all motorway traffic diverted through the A6 from Friday evening until Monday morning on both occasions.
The broken-down HGV in Clifton was not fully recovered until around 5am today, causing disruption to diverted M6 traffic throughout the night.
A spokesperson for Clifton Community Council said: “We have been engaging with National Highways and other stakeholders for over year on this project and have consistently raised concerns over the diversion of motorway traffic along the A6 through Clifton and other local communities with the lack of any additional safety measures introduced. The road is not suitable for the weight and volume of traffic that is been forced to use the road and the breakdown overnight of the HGV on what is at the best of times a very sharp blind bend only goes to highlight the concerns we have raised with National Highways and Westmorland and Furness Highways over the frequency of diversions and volume of motorway traffic diverted along the A6.”
"We full appreciate and support that the works underway on the M6 and West coast mainline bridge need to be done as part of securing the long term safety of the national transport infrastructure but that should not be at the expense of safety to our community and those using the A6.”
“Westmorland and Furness Highways have said they share our concerns and are working in collaboration with Clifton Community Council to try and ensure safety concerns caused by the diversion of the M6 are addressed ahead of the January closures.”
Speaking about the current overnight closures of the M6 National Highway said “We’re working overnight when traffic is lowest and have speed restrictions on the diversion to reduce disruption.”
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