HIGHWAYS England has praised drivers and residents for their support as its £5 million package of carriageway improvements along the A66 starts to take shape.

This weekend sees the third of seven consecutive closures of the road between Penrith and Brough.

The major road reconstruction is taking place between Low Moor and Kirkby Thore, east of Penrith, but Highways England is using the opportunity to do other repairs and maintenance along the A66 during the closures which start at 10pm each Friday and are lifted by 3am on the following Monday.

Highways England project manager Steve Mason said the progress so far couldn’t have been achieved without the support of local people, drivers and hauliers.

He said: “The support of local people, road users and HGV drivers has enabled us to crack on with the work."

“We would also like to thank Cumbria Police for their support in making sure the diversion routes have been operating smoothly and safely in the interest of the local community and drivers."

Weekend closures will continue until October 22, and drivers can sign up for free text alerts by sending a text message from their device with the message A66 to 07860 048333.

Full details of the project are available at highwaysengland.co.uk/A66EdenValley

Details of the diversion routes for HGVs are:

• HGVs to use the A69 instead of the A66 to travel between the M6 at Carlisle and A1 at Newcastle as the alternative M6 to A1 and A1 to M6, trans-Pennine route

• HGVs to use the M62 trans-Pennine route linking Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire as an alternative diversion further south.

Details of the local diversions being used include:

• The A685 Brough to Tebay route via Kirkby Stephen with current restrictions remaining in place (18 tonne weight and 14ft 6in height limits).

• The B6260, Appleby to Shap route via Orton with current restrictions remaining in place (18 tonnes except for access)

• The Bolton to the A6 route via Clifton.

• A 7.5 tonne limit will be in place on the A66 from Appleby.