New £60m Bridge Set to Replace Clifton Bridge Over M6 Motorway
A £60 million project will replace the aging Clifton bridge, ensuring safer travel for rail and road users in Cumbria.
Penrith, Cumbria, M6, Clifton Bridge, Network Rail, Infrastructure
Penrith: A big £60 million project is on the way to replace the old Clifton bridge over the M6 motorway. This bridge is pretty important for trains connecting northern England and Scotland, but it’s been around for 71 years and is now considered unsafe.
Because of its condition, trains can only cross one at a time, which is a real hassle for both passengers and freight services. The new bridge is expected to fix that and make travel smoother.
They’ve already started getting things ready on-site, setting up construction areas and access roads with help from National Highways. The plan is to take down the old bridge and put up the new one by early 2026.
They’ll also let everyone know about alternative transport options for rail passengers and detours for drivers well ahead of time.
Olivia Boland, who’s in charge of the project at Network Rail, mentioned that rebuilding the Clifton bridge is crucial for keeping everyone safe for years to come. It’s really needed since the old bridge has reached the end of its life.
Steve Mason from National Highways added that this project is vital for one of the country’s key railway lines. They’ll keep everyone updated, especially as they get closer to the two weekend closures of the motorway early next year.
While this project is similar to other successful infrastructure efforts, like the recent M62 Castleton bridge replacement, it might cause some major disruptions for both road and rail services.
From January 2025 until the project wraps up in 2026, there will be traffic management on the M6, including lane closures and shutting down the hard shoulder about 5km south of Junction 40.
Rail services will also face two planned weekend closures in January 2026, with the M6 completely closed between Junction 39 at Shap and Junction 40 near Penrith during those times. The closures are set for January 2–5 and January 9–12, 2026.
Network Rail is working closely with train operators and National Highways to keep disruptions to a minimum.