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Highways England will start design and construction work to repair the A591, and investigate what is required to restore Pooley Bridge and Eamont Bridge, in Cumbria, in the new year.
This follows assessment work that has already been undertaken.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the funding would help communities in Cumbria and Lancashire recover from the effects of Storm Desmond and Storm Eva by helping to fund the repairs to key local transport infrastructure.
The additional funding and the deployment of a Highways England construction team are part of the government’s wider commitment to help support communities dealing with the effects of the extreme weather over recent weeks.
Jim O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of Highways England said: “On behalf of Cumbria County Council we and our supply chain partners will be working to rebuild the damaged section of the A591 as soon as possible so it is safe for road users, and to investigate what we can do to repair the A6 Eamont Bridge and the B5320 Pooley Bridge.”
Today’s announcement builds on the government’s provision of up to £2m in the initial aftermath of the severe wet weather to enable Cumbria and Lancashire authorities to carry out an initial assessment of what repairs were required to roads and bridges.
Focus on three major engineering projects across Cumbria
Emergency repairs
- rebuild the crucial A591, the road which runs north to south through the heart of the Lake District, to allow it to be reopened as soon as possible
- investigate what can be done to replace Pooley Bridge, situated at the northern end of Ullswater, after it was completely swept away by flood water
- examine how the Eamont Bridge, near Penrith, can be rebuilt to be more resilient against future flooding
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