MOTORISTS who travel between Tynedale and Cumbria on the scenic road via Hartside Pass will face disruption later this month, with the A686 due to close for three weeks.

Resurfacing work will close the road, which runs from Haydon Bridge to Penrith, at Meathaw Hill, near Alston.

The work, costing £470,000, will start on Monday, September 23, and is due to take three weeks to complete.

The road will be closed to all traffic with a full road closure in place between 8am and 6pm seven days a week.

The local Keswick to Alston bus service will be able to pass through the closure, with the return bound service waiting at the closure point at Meathaw Hill until 6pm if required.

The road is frequently used by cyclists as it forms part of the Coast to Coast cycle route.

Bicycles and pedestrians will be able to get through. However cyclists may be asked to dismount.

Between the hours of 6pm and 8am, all traffic will be able to pass under escort in a convoy system. However, the road will be fully open to traffic on Wednesday, October 2, for the annual Alston Moor gimmer lambs sale in Lazonby, Cumbria.

Cumbria county councillor for Alston and East Fellside, Claire Driver, said: “I welcome this next stage of investment into our road network and although it will cause some disruption, the improvements will undoubtedly be welcome.”

While the road is closed, vehicles will need to reach Alston via the M6 to junction 43 at Carlisle, before taking the A69 and turning off on to the A689 road.

Alternatively, motorists can take the A66 to the Brough turn off and then the B6276 to the B6277 from Middleton in Teesdale.