HIGHWAYS bosses have defended the need to close a vital route in and out of south Cumbria after announcing the third roadworks scheme set to cause misery for motorists.

Earlier this week, Highways England revealed the A590 between Barrow and Ulverston will be subject to delays and road closures for six weeks starting from Monday.

The project to repair and improve drainage between Dalton roundabout and Queen Street in Ulverston is set to take six weeks and be completed by Sunday November 20.

The work will be taking place – with narrow lanes or temporary traffic lights – between 8pm and 6am overnight for the first week followed by work between 9.30am and 3.30pm, as well as overnight.

In response, a number of motorists have highlighted other ongoing roadworks affecting the A590, including an overnight closure on Sunday October 30 between the Booths roundabout in Ulverston and the Greenodd roundabout, as well as the closure of the eastbound carriageway at Arrad Foot for three weeks from Monday while rock fall netting is installed.

Highways England's service delivery team leader John Lyssejko defended the increasingly regular roadworks schemes blighting the A590 and insisted the road closures were necessary.

"If we can keep a road open we will do," he said.

"The main criteria for us is not to do the work during the day but when traffic is at its lightest, which is overnight.

"Worker safety is also paramount and while we may be doing work on one lane, the other lane has to be closed as a safety lane, and for practical reasons to allow equipment and materials to be delivered."

Mr Lyssejko also responded to criticisms over the closure of one lane on the eastbound carriageway at Arrad Foot since last November, after safety concerns about falling rocks were flagged up. Some motorists had questioned why the rock fall netting had not been put in place sooner.

"We had to assess what the problem was and carry out investigative work," he said.

"It's not just like getting a plumber in to mend a pipe, it's a major civil engineering scheme and we have to find the most practical and efficient solution."