MAJOR engineering work is set to be carried out on two roads in South Lakeland to repair damage caused by severe flooding.

Cumbria County Council will be investing more than £1.2 million in the improvement schemes and work will start at both locations later this month.

The schemes form part of a major multi million pound improvement programme by the county council, which has secured flood recovery funding from the Department for Transport to carry out the works.

In total, more than £4.5 million will be invested during 2014 to repair the highway network at ten separate locations in the county where significant structural damage was caused following flood events. Earth banks shoring up the side of some roads were washed away and the ‘foundations’ of roads were significantly damaged.

Work will start on the U5621 at Sampool Lane, near Levens, on Monday (Feb 17) and is expected to last for approximately 19 weeks. The scheme will involve constructing a concrete pile retaining wall, and the road will be closed to protect the safety of the public and highway contractors.

Signs giving road users advanced warning of the closure are in place and there will be a signed diversion for a suitable alternative route.

Local communities and businesses are being informed of the closure and signs will be in place advising that businesses in the area are open as normal during the works. A way for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists will be maintained throughout. The work is expected to be completed on July 4.

And work will start on the A683 at Cautley, near Sedbergh, on February 24 and is expected to last for about 23 weeks. The scheme will involve constructing a reinforced concrete retaining wall, and traffic controls will be in place during the works to protect the safety of the public and highway contractors. Signs giving road users advanced warning of the works will go up shortly. Local communities and businesses are being informed about the scheme. The work is expected to be completed on August 8.

Coun Keith Little, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We are investing more than £4.5 million in a major programme of work to deliver significant structural improvements to the highways network by repairing roads damaged by flooding. This essential work will protect these locations from the threat of future flood damage and secure the roads for generations to come.

“We will do all we can to ensure traffic flows smoothly during these works, but some disruption will be unavoidable and we apologise for any inconvenience.”

Engineering work is also planned on the A591 Penny Rock to White Moss road, south of Grasmere; A593 near Yew Tree Farm, north of Coniston; A6 Hucks Brow, north of Kendal and the U5272 east of Gurnal Bridge, north of Kendal