PART of west Cumbria's busiest road may be closed for a year because of a landslip.

And that may mean drivers being forced to endure a 40-mile diversion or engineers having to build a temporary road.

A major landslip has been found on an embankment to the left of the A595 northbound between the Lowca junction and Howgate roundabout.

Talks are underway about how to deal with the huge volume of traffic that uses the road.

It is understood that Highways England, which is responsible for the road, cannot advertise a diversion from a major road onto minor ones.

That means the only available alternative route available a 40-mile diversion via the A5086 through Egremont, Frizington, Lamplugh and Cockermouth.

But instead of a diversion, a temporary road bypassing the closed stretch may be built from the Howgate roundabout to the Rosehill road.

A temporary bridge to take motorists over the work is understood to have been ruled out due to the vibrations it would cause to the already unstable embankment.

A Highways England spokesman said: "The Victorian embankment on the A595 between Low Moresby roundabout and Lowca is reaching the end of its life and will need to be replaced."

No date of a target start date for work has been revealed, but it's thought that roads bosses want it cleared before work begins on a new nuclear power plant at Moorside, near Sellafield, were that given the go-ahead. A 2020 start is being earmarked.

Highways England will hold talks about the proposals at Lowca Village Hall between 2pm and 6.30pm next Thursday. (APRIL 7)

"Communities can learn about engineering work being considered by Highways England and Cumbria County Council and help inform plans to minimise disruption while the work is taking place," the spokesman added.

"The drop-in session will be an opportunity for local people to learn about the engineering task and to explore the issues around disruption, potential local diversion routes and other elements related to the work."

Residents of Lowca and Low Moresby – both set to be affected by the work and the diverted traffic – have long campaigned about the roads through their villages being used as rat-runs.

Parish councils in both communities have urged people to attend next week's drop-in - and make the case for other road improvements to be carried out the same time as the landslip repairs.

Mike Milner, clerk of Lowca, said: “If residents go along, look at the proposals and put forward their views, then perhaps there could be a successful resolution to a small part of the local area traffic problem.”

Kevin Young, chairman of Parton, added: "We believe that this is an opportunity which should not be missed to ensure that whatever changes are proposed to the course of the road it allows for safe exits from the three villages of Parton Lowca and Moresby."