Network Rail have this week issued a major update on its plans for the removal and reconstruction of the railway bridge that carries the Westcoast mainline over the M6 at Clifton.
Network rail have said that during the work to demolish the existing bridge and install the new bridge that has been built over the last year in a compound alongside the M6 at Clifton the labour on site will be using handheld, mechanical tools.
Site lighting will be in place throughout the hours of darkness for the safety of the work force.
Heavy plant such as 360 degree excavators and dozers will be in use to remove and reinstall the componatary of the railway line.
The work will take place for 16 days and nights from 5pm New Years Eve 31/12/2025 continually until 3am on Thursday 15/01/26 when the Westcoast mainline is scheduled to reopen after its 16-day closure.
Follow up shifts on Saturday night will also be required from the 17th January 2026 until the 23rd February 2026 with the times for the weekend shifts overnight from 10pm Saturday night to 9am Sunday.
Network Rail said “We work around the clock to keep the railway running smoothly for passengers and freight. Our work is often noisy, late at night and on weekends. The nature of the tasks means we can't prevent all noise, but our teams will try to minimise this as much as possible. We're sorry if we disturb you.”
During recent overnight work on the nearby Lowther Bridge and during the construction of slip roads off the M6 at Clifton for the railway bridge project resulted in residents across Penrith reporting noise disturbance from the works leading to warnings the work from New Year’s Eve could impact a wide area beyond Clifton.
As well as the 16 days of heavy engineering work the M6 will close between junction 39 (Shap) and 40 (Penrith) in both directions from:
8pm Friday 2 January to 5am Monday 5 January 2026
8pm Friday 9 January to 5am Monday 12 January 2026
Major disruption is expected across both weekends.
National Highways are strongly urging drivers to avoid this section of the M6 and consider other routes.
If that’s not possible, drivers are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time or look at retiming journeys.
Traffic management around Penrith will see a unmentioned of roads closed to all traffic and diversions put in place with resident permits required to access local diversion routes.
On the A66 at Kemplay Bank roundabout traffic signals will be turned off across both weekends. The roundabout will not function as a roundabout over both weekend closures with no access to the A6 southbound between 5am and 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays, drivers to use the A66 and A685.
A6 southbound will reopen overnight (8pm to 5am), subject to traffic levels. Access from Bridge Lane (A6) and Carleton Avenue (A686) onto Kemplay Bank will closed from 8pm on Fridays to 5am on Mondays with clearly signed diversions will be in place
Southbound HGVs must use A66, A1(M) and M62 on Saturdays and Sundays (5am to 8pm) due to a narrow section on the A6 and a low bridge on the A685.
National Highways have said they “recognise this is lengthy so we’re reopening the A6 southbound at night (8pm to 5am), subject to low traffic numbers.”
M6 junction 40 will see traffic lights turned off, replaced with temporary signals installed on southbound exit slip and ring road north bridge, drivers on the A66 eastbound and westbound approaches must give way.
Entry from Ullswater Road (A592) onto junction 40 will close between 5am and 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays clearly signed diversions will be in place via Mile Lane and Newbiggin onto the A66.
Pedestrian access at A66 Kemplay Bank roundabout and M6 junction 40 will be maintained.
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