THERE is no end in sight for a 'temporary' road closure put in place nearly four years ago.

Barrow's Manor Road, near Furness Abbey, closed in 2020 to allow for works to be carried out on an unsafe historic bridge.

It came after inspections found the bridge was a potential danger to the public.

A series of further closures have been put in place since then, with work yet to be carried out on the bridge.

A road closure is officially in place until August but it is not yet known whether it will be ready to open then.

Assessments of the bridge and the work needing to be carried out are said to be ongoing.

The bridge repairs have previously been described as complex and other measures could be looked at to reopen the road before it is fixed.

Current works are focusing on installing barriers and signage for motorists attempting to drive on the road.

A Westmorland and Furness Council spokesman said: "Manor Road is closed due to an unsafe bridge structure.

"There are a number of issues requiring resolution before a remedial solution can be delivered.

"We are currently in the process of installing more robust barriers and signage to improve the closure arrangements and will confirm a timescale for reopening the bridge once we have completed our assessment."

The protracted closure has been a source of frustration, with the road used by used by residents in Roose and nearby villages to access Abbey Road. 

The then Cumbria County Council said in January 2020 that Manor Road Bridge was 'in a poor condition and should not be used by vehicles on the road carried by the bridge'.

At the time it was estimated that the closure would last 'several months.

It kept the road closed 'until such time as any works have been completed and the danger to the public no longer exists, at which point the order will be revoked'.

A lengthy diversion was put in place via Long Lane, Newton Road, and Parkhouse Road.