ROADS in and around junction 44 of the M6 in Carlisle will be closed overnight as part of the £7 million package of improvements.

Highways England has recently completed resurfacing the motorway between junction 44 and junction 45 and is now turning its attention to improving traffic flows and safety at the roundabout at junction 44 where the M6 meets the A7 and A689 roads.

The junction serves one of the main routes into Carlisle as well as adjacent retail parks and an industrial estate.

To make sure drivers and local residents are kept informed of the work taking place a free text message alert system has been set up for the duration of the roundabout work.

There will be a 24-hour speed restriction in place on the roundabout for the duration of the works.

The overnight works started last night and will be in place for five consecutive weekends.

In addition, there will be mid-week overnight closures of approaches and slip roads.

The exit from the roundabout onto the A7 at Longtown will be shut today (MON) from 8pm to 6am.

The northbound slip road of junction 44 will be shut from 8pm until 6am from tomorrow, July 2 until July 5.

The A689 to Houghton will be shut on Monday, July 8 from 8pm until 6am.

Kingstown Road - leading from the roundabout to the new Story Homes development at Aspen Grange - will be closed on July 9 from 8pm until 6am for resurfacing and the northbound section will close on July 10 from 8pm to 6am.

A Cumbria County Council spokesman said: "A diversion will be in place."

Letters about the work have been sent to residents.

Jobert Fermilan, project manager for Highways England, said: "We are working collaboratively with Cumbria County Council; Connect Roads are using the reduced traffic flow to carry out some resurfacing schemes. This will mean less disruption for the travelling public and a safer environment for the work force."

In addition, the A7 at Westlinton is shut until Friday, July 5 from 7pm until 6am.

The A689 at Houghton Hall will be closed from Sunday, July 7 until Friday, July 12 from 7pm to 6am and the A689 at Carlisle Airport will close from Sunday, July 14 to Friday, July 19 from 7pm until 6am.

Mr Fermilan said: "The fence panel replacement works on the M6 between junctions 44 and 45 (north and southbound) will continue during the day and the speed restriction on the motorway will remain in place for the duration of the works."

The idea of delivering several different projects in one package at the same time was successfully trialled by Highways England last year when £5 million of resurfacing was completed along several different sections of the A66 between Penrith and Brough. A text alert system also was piloted during this work.

Mr Fermilan said: “The text alert system we used for the A66 was especially popular with truck drivers who appreciated knowing as soon as the road reopened. We will be operating the system again as part of our commitment to keeping people informed during the M6 junction work. We encourage road users to sign up for free alerts about the progress of the work and when closures are in place.”

* Anyone wanting to sign up to the free text alert system should text ‘M6 Carlisle North’ to 07860048846.

More information about the project, including diversion information for the overnight closures, is available at www.highwaysengland.co.uk/M6CarlisleNorth