A £1.7 million project to replace the central reservation safety barrier along the M6 south of Penrith started on Friday (November, 11).

The steel safety barrier along a two-mile section south of junction 40 - between Hackthorpe bridge and Tinkler’s Lane bridge - is being totally replaced in two phases by National Highways. 

National Highways project manager Mark Mosley said: "To speed up delivery of this important safety project we’ll be working around the clock with lane closures in place past the roadworks - although we are not expecting any issues with congestion."

The current phase of work is due to be completed on Saturday, December 19 before the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

The project will then resume in the spring with the second phase taking place between March 3 and April 21 with a break over the Easter holiday.

Two lanes will be open to drivers in both the southbound and northbound carriageways during the roadworks with the hard shoulder being used on the southbound carriageway and free recovery in place. 

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