M6 to Close Twice in Early January as Major Rail Bridge Replacement Gets Underway in Cumbria

Motorists planning journeys through Cumbria in the first half of January are being urged to reconsider their travel plans as part of the M6 motorway will be closed for two full weekends to support a major railway infrastructure project.
The closures are linked to Network Rail’s replacement of Clifton Bridge, which carries the West Coast Main Line over the M6 just south of Penrith. The work is part of a wider programme to modernise one of the UK’s busiest and most important rail corridors.
National Highways has confirmed that the M6 will be shut in both directions between Junction 39 at Shap and Junction 40 at Penrith from 8:00pm on Friday 2 January until 5:00am on Monday 5 January. The same section will close again from 8:00pm on Friday 9 January until 5:00am on Monday 12 January.
The affected stretch of motorway typically carries around 50,000 vehicles every day, making the closures some of the most disruptive weekend shutdowns seen in Cumbria in recent years. Drivers who do not need to pass through the county during these periods are being advised to delay their journeys where possible.
Steve Mason, programme delivery manager at National Highways, said the motorway closures were unavoidable due to the scale of the work involved.
“This is a vital project to secure the long-term reliability of the West Coast Main Line, and unfortunately it can’t be completed safely without closing the M6,” he said. “Anyone who must travel should plan ahead and follow the signed diversion routes.”
Network Rail says the bridge replacement will be carried out alongside other major improvements, including the renewal of more than 80 kilometres of overhead power lines and ongoing upgrades to signalling systems. The work is expected to improve reliability and reduce delays for rail passengers in the long term.
Project manager William Brandon described the scheme as a major investment in the future of the railway.
“This is an ambitious upgrade that will benefit passengers for years to come,” he said, adding that travellers should check rail services in advance during the works.
To manage road traffic during the closures, several diversion routes will be in operation. Northbound traffic will be directed off the M6 at Junction 39 and onto the A6 before rejoining at Junction 40. Southbound heavy goods vehicles will be diverted via the A66 and A1(M) near Scotch Corner, while other southbound drivers will follow routes through Brough and Kirkby Stephen to rejoin the motorway at Junction 38 near Tebay.
National Highways traffic officers will operate around the clock during the closures, monitoring congestion and responding to incidents from control centres in Warrington and Cumbria. A free text alert service will also be available, providing live updates to drivers over the affected weekends.
In the run-up to the closures, thousands of information leaflets have been distributed to households in and around Penrith, and public drop-in sessions are continuing at the Rheged Centre to help residents and travellers understand the plans.
Authorities are reminding both road users and rail passengers that while short-term disruption is unavoidable, the work is intended to deliver long-term improvements to transport links across the North West.