Cumbria Floods Travel Updates – Travelling through Cumbria
THIS IS AN ARCHIVE PAGE SHOWING HISTORICAL INFORMATION
If you are searching for updates on flooding and flooding related road closures in Cumbria please visit the Cumbria Police website
See live pictures of rivers and roads on our 50 Webcams page
Other useful link to check for up-to-date problems:
Rail
Roads and Bridges
THE BELOW IS HISTORICAL INFORMATION and no longer applies
Most of the main trunk roads are now clear and working fine – the M6 north/south through the centre of the county from Lancashire past Kendal, Penrith, Carlisle to Scotland, the A66 east/west from Brough, Appleby, Penrith, Keswick, Cockermouth to Workington, and the coast road from Barrow to Whitehaven, Workington and Maryport and Silloth.
However the main A591 road, the only road north/south through the central lakes has severe damage and is closed for the section between Grasmere and just north of Thirlmere due to major damage. The only alternative is a long detour via the M6. So for towns and villages from the south up to Grasmere – leave from the M6 at Kendal (J36/37 from south, and J39/38 from the north), and for towns and villages north of Thirlmere use the M6 to Penrith (J40) then the A66 to Keswick, and back south on the A591.
The A686 road is damaged by the River Eden bridge at Langwathby, so for villages from Langwathby to Alston north of the river, a detour from Penrith to Temple Sowerby along the A66, then back through Culgaith to Langwathby is needed.
The only other road which has major damage is the A592 between Patterdale and Glenridding, at the southern end of Ullswater. There are also problems with landslips on the road along the full length of Ullswater from Glenridding to Pooley Bridge. The only route to Patterdale is via the Kirkstone Pass from Ambleside/Windermere. Glenridding can be reached from the A66 and Dockray.
Two road bridges have collapsed, thus requiring detours for a long period of time. The bridge at Pooley Bridge over the River Eamont has collapsed, which now requires a detour to Penrith and back via Rheged and the A6 at Eamont Bridge, though there may be temporary closures at Eamont Bridge. If so continue along the A66 to Brougham Castle, and return to Eamont Bridge. From the south use the A6 to just south of Eamont Bridge.
The bridge on the A683 at Middleton, between Kirkby Lonsdale and Sedbergh has also collapsed, which now requires a detour vis the M6.
Many bridges are closed for safety checks, including the River Eden bridge in Carlisle.