A MAIN road into Carlisle will be shut for more than three months in one direction from February 25.

Work will be carried out on Warwick Road - close to Victoria Place - to replace the water mains pipes.

United Utilities - which is carrying out the work - has written to residents and held information sessions outlining them of their plans.

The huge pipes - which supply most of Carlisle’s drinking water - are set for their first complete revamp in nearly 100 years.

The work is the latest and most substantial part of a £14m scheme to clean and refurbish more than 30km of pipes in the city.

United Utilities third party coordinator Paul Wheadon said the work was essential to improve the water supplies for tens of thousands of customers.

He said: “These cast iron pipes have served their communities well for more than nine decades but, over that length of time, harmless deposits of iron have built up which can cause occasional temporary discolouration which we want to prevent. These two pipes are critical because they are the ones that link the city to water works at Cumwhinton.”

Meanwhile, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), is carrying out essential works to upgrade the gas distribution network at Corby Hill crossroads, near Carlisle.

The £400,000 project is part of NGN’s ongoing investment in the gas infrastructure in the area and involves replacing more than 4km of existing metal gas pipes with more durable plastic ones.

This will ensure the continued, safe and reliable supply of gas to customers in the area for years to come.

The scheme, which began in July 2018 and is due to finish on Friday 15 March 2019, has been carefully planned in conjunction with Cumbria County Council and Road Link.

In order for the next phase of the project to be carried out, it will be necessary to implement some temporary traffic management measures.

From Monday, February 25 until Friday, March 15 there will be a road closure on the junction of Corby Hill crossroads to Heads Nook.

A signed diversion route will be in place for motorists. Temporary lights will also be placed on the A69 and manned during peak hours.

It’s expected these works will cause some delays to journey times, so motorists and commuters are advised to leave extra time for travel whilst the temporary traffic signals and road closures are in place.

NGN’s customer care officers have been door-knocking residents and businesses to make customers aware of the project’s latest phase, while on-site signage will advise motorists of the work taking place.

Shops and businesses in the area will remain open as usual throughout the project.