Essential rockfall safety works to begin on A681 Bacup Road

The work will be carried out over weekends only, with the road reopening during the week.

Inspections have identified several overhanging and potentially unstable sections of rock above the road. While the existing safety netting has helped contain loose material for many years, further improvements are now needed to reduce the risk of rockfall reaching the carriageway.

The works will involve installing new high-strength rockfall netting, removing unstable sections of rock, clearing vegetation from the rockface and removing accumulated rock debris.

The A681 Bacup Road will be closed on Saturdays and Sundays for up to seven successive weekends, starting on Saturday 10 October 2026, so the work can be carried out safely.

The road will be open as normal during the week.

A signed diversion route will be in place during the weekends and motorists are encouraged to plan their journeys in advance. Bus operators and emergency services have been notified of the closures.

County Councillor Warren Goldsworthy, cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said:

"These are essential safety works that will help reduce the risk of rockfall and protect everyone who uses this route.

"We appreciate the weekend closures may cause some inconvenience and we'd like to thank residents, businesses and motorists for their patience while this work is carried out.

"By carrying out the work at weekends and reopening the road during the week, we're aiming to minimise disruption as much as possible while ensuring the work can be completed safely."

Advance warning signs will be installed ahead of the closures and Lancashire County Council will keep people updated as the work progresses.

We appreciate these closures may cause some inconvenience, but this essential work will help protect road users and improve the long-term safety of the route.