A major protest has taken place in Kirkby Stephen this afternoon (Saturday 17th January) over plans by National Highways to close Junction 38 of the M6 at Tebay as part of a four-year programme of bridge works through the Lune Gorge.

Residents and business owners from Kirkby Stephen and Tebay took to the streets to oppose the proposed closures, calling on National Highways to rethink the scheme and install temporary slip roads to maintain access during the works.

Between 2027 and 2031, National Highways plans to replace all seven bridges carrying the M6 through the Lune Gorge. As part of this programme, Junction 38 is expected to face lengthy closures, a move that campaigners say will have serious knock-on effects to both residents and businesses not only for communities in the Upper Eden, but also for Penrith and surrounding areas with increased traffic using the A66.

One of the key concerns impacting Penrith from the closures is the expectation of substantial increase in traffic using the A66 via Junction 40 and Kemplay Roundabout. This increase at the same time as planned works on the A66 upgrade at Kemplay will be underway, raising concerns of congestion and disruption for motorists, businesses and residents in and around Penrith.

The residents and businesses in Kirkby Stephen and Tebay are concerned about the substantial impacts the face both socially and economically with long diversions and impacts on local businesses.

Kirkby Stephen Town Council Chairman Paul Richardson described the proposed closure of Junction 38 as “a disaster for our communities that must be challenged”. He said the M6/A685 junction is vital to the economy of the Upper Eden area, with implications extending west towards Penrith and east into Cumbria and beyond.

The town council, supported by local residents and businesses, is calling for the installation of temporary slip roads at Junction 38 to maintain access to both the M6 and the A685 while the bridge replacements are carried out. However, the council has said that National Highways has stated temporary slip roads are not an option due to financial and engineering constraints.

In response, Kirkby Stephen Town Council has launched a petition calling for the provision of temporary slip roads at M6 Junction 38, to ensure ongoing access during the four-year programme.

National Highways has said: “Junction 38 will be accessible during the project apart from a limited number of occasional overnight or weekend closures, which we will keep to a minimum. These are necessary to keep both our workforce and drivers safe.”

National Highways’ Senior Project Manager, said:

“The bridges that carry the M6 and A685 over the Lune Gorge in Cumbria are rapidly reaching the end of their serviceable life. When this section of the M6 was opened in 1970 no-one could have predicted the huge rise in domestic and commercial traffic, with thousands of cars, coaches, vans and HGVs now pounding the motorway daily.   

“That huge volume of traffic has taken its toll, but this project will ensure this section of the M6 plays a key role in connecting businesses and communities across the north and beyond for decades to come.”

Millions of people rely on the M6 for business, leisure and visiting friends and family. National Highways have said that it’s important they carry out this work now to remove the risk of unplanned closures on the M6 due to deterioration. To ensure the M6 continues to connect the region and helps it to thrive for decades to come.

Penrith will also be facing disruption with the A66 upgrade works that should be underway at the same time as work starts on Junction 38 an increase in traffic could impact trade and connectivity in Penrith across the Eden Valley.

The petition can calling for the Carry out an independent economic and social assessment of the impact of the works on the affected communities and use the results to inform decision making and for National Highways to install temporary slip roads at Junction 38 of the M6 to maintain access throughout the works. Can be signed online here J38 Petition