Motorists will be able to access Thirlmere direct from the South again. Photo: Mick Knapton CC-BY-SA-3.0

Motorists will be able to access Thirlmere direct from the South again. Photo: Mick Knapton CC-BY-SA-3.0

The main road through an English national park will open tomorrow, five months after severe floods washed part of it away.

The A591 between Dunmail Raise and the Thirlmere will be officially re-opened, three weeks sooner than planned.

Cumbria County Council said its leader Stewart Young will be joined by floods minister Rory Stewart at a ceremony at the site.

Motorists have faced a long diversion between Windermere and Keswick, via the Kirkstone Pass and Ullswater, since the road was severely damaged in December. A temporary track was built to allow a shuttle bus to operate, and the Lake District National Park Authority took the opportunity to improve a parallel route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders along an existing bridleway.

A council spokesperson said: “The road opening means that it is ready for the spring bank holiday and May half-term, helping to get Cumbria open for business and ready for the 2016 tourism season.

Some articles the site thinks might be related:

  1. Scots mountaineers plead for rethink over Ramblers’ closure
  2. Suileag bothy to close for a week for repairs
  3. Search dog finds exhausted missing Thirlmere Forest walker
  4. Police body’s grant to mountain rescuers for flood-damaged gear
  5. Snowdonia bosses close car parks in reponse to flouting of lockdown rules