ADDITIONAL restrictions have been imposed at the roadworks on Walney bridge amid safety fears after motorists were carrying out U-turns to avoid using the two-mile diversion.

The ongoing roadworks to resurface and strengthen Jubilee Bridge started in June and restrictions at the Walney end of the bridge mean motorists cannot turn right at any of the junctions.

However some have been getting round the restrictions and diversions and Cumbria County Council has now banned motorists from turning left onto the Promenade from Central Drive meaning those living in Vickerstown are now forced to use the diversion.

A spokesman for the county council explained the restriction onto the Promenade was to stop motorists carrying out U-turns in Central Drive to circumnavigate the diversion along Mill Lane.

Motorists had been travelling onto Central Drive from Jubilee Bridge and then carrying out a U-turn so they could then turn left onto the Promenade.

"We’ve had a lot of complaints from residents about the U-turns – we’ve created a temporary emergency traffic order on safety grounds," the spokesman added.

The roadworks on Jubilee Bridge are set to last until September with contractors Story carrying out waterproofing and resurfacing the bridge deck.

The bridge has been reduced to one lane in each direction with traffic unable to turn right at the crossroads with Central Drive, Ocean Road and the Promenade. A diversion is in place via Mill Lane.

From October 2019 to April 2019, the shipyard-funded project to install traffic lights and replace the roundabout at the Barrow end of the bridge will take place.

Between April 2019 and January 2020 the second phase of the bridge work will take place. This will involve steelwork repairs and painting all the steelwork over the full length of the bridge.