THE second phase of a major road maintenance project on the M6 will begin a 'few weeks earlier' so the work is done before the Easter bank holiday.

The £1.7 million National Highways project to replace the central reservation safety barrier along the M6 south of Penrith will resume on Monday (February 20).

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.  The first phase began in November and was completed before Christmas.

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. 

The work is due to be completed in April before the start of the Easter holiday period.

National Highways project manager Mark Mosley said:  “To speed up delivery of this important project we’ve been working around the clock, seven days a week with lane closures in place past the roadworks.

"This second phase is starting a few weeks earlier than planned allowing the work to be completed ahead of the next bank holiday."