A ROAD closure on the A592 between Bowness and Newby Bridge has been lifted ahead of the Easter holidays.

United Utilities has been carrying out the first stage of a project to lay a new 6.5km sewer along the route - part of a programme to improve water quality in Windermere. The pipe-laying work has now stopped for the main tourist season.

The road closure and diversion, which had been in place since January 2017, was lifted on March 31. United Utilities will resume work on the new sewer in November 2017.

The wastewater project is designed to reduce the number of times the sewer network overflows into the lake during heavy storms. These overflows are a contributor of phosphorous in the mere, which can cause algal blooms and reduce the amount of oxygen in the water - inhibiting aquatic life, and potentially impacting on recreational uses of the lake.

The £40 million programme also includes upgrades to the wastewater treatment works serving the area.

Yasir Mustafa, United Utilities’ senior project manager, said: "This important project to improve the water quality of Windermere will have vital long-term benefits for wildlife, tourism and the local economy.

"We understand the road closure has been inconvenient and would like to thank the community and motorists for their patience and understanding during our work.

“We’ve planned the project so that we carry out our work in the highway during the winter months. Over the busy summer tourist season our construction work will continue at our wastewater treatment plant sites at Windermere and Ambleside and in areas away from the main road.

“Although we have reopened the road, there will be work at times over the summer to enable other utility services to be moved. The service providers will coordinate their work with the highways department and there may be some traffic management involved.

"However, motorists who use this stretch will certainly see improvements to their journey times with the removal of the diversion.”

United Utilities says it has worked seven days a week during the road closure and provided a free bus replacement service for affected routes. The company has also maintained access for local residents and has escorted pedestrians and cyclists through the construction works to try to reduce disruption.

Further pipeline laying works within the A592 will take place from November 2017- April 2018 and November 2018- April 2019, with details to be announced nearer the time.