A key arterial road in Kendal shut for almost two weeks to allow for emergency repairs, has finally reopened.

The stretch of the A6 at Sandes Avenue in the town centre reopened at 5pm on Sunday after significant repair work on the flood damaged Victoria Bridge was completed.

The reopening will come as a huge relief to businesses across the town, as well as commuters. There have been reports of downturns in trade and lengthy detours for major employers, such as Lakeland, while the work has been undertaken.

Victoria Bridge – commonly known as Batman Bridge due to the distinct markings on its sides – suddenly closed on July 23 after it was revealed that heavy rain had caused severe damage to the east pier of the 150-year-old structure.

The much-anticipated reopening has been at the mercy of the weather, with engineers needing calm weather conditions and low water levels to install 16 tonnes of grout bags and 700 tonnes of rock armour to shore up and protect the bridge.

Engineers from Cumbria County Council (CCC) and Story Contracting have been working alongside specialist dive teams for 12 hours a day to secure the bridge, which has been beset by structural problems since it was damaged during Storm Desmond in 2015.

In an update a social media, the council thanked the public for their patience following days of heavy congestions and, for some, detours of more than 30 miles due to the closure of a key road.

The closure has sparked anger from businesses and politicians across the town.

Last week the council’s Conservative group leader, Councillor James Airey, accused the authority of sitting on its hands and adopting a “patch and make do approach” to securing the bridge, which was closed in January 2016 for emergency work to be undertaken.

The sentiment was echoed by Julian Rayner, one of the owners of Lakeland Limited, and Kendal BID manager Sarah Williams, who blasted the council for failing to tackle the problem earlier.

They, along with Westmorland and Lonsdale MP, Tim Farron, argued that the closure demonstrated the pressing need for a Kendal Northern Development Route, which would take a significant amount of traffic away from the town centre.

Calls for the new bypass have been growing, and while it has been identified in Transport for the North’s strategic plan for road investments, there are no timescales earmarked.

Ironically, CCC the Environment Agency and Story Contracting Limited had just kicked off £740,000-worth of structural work to secure the long-term future of Victoria Bridge just a month before the most recent closure.

Work on the project – which will recommence this week – is now expected to run into October.