DELAYS to traffic are expected when work starts on a motorway bridge later this month.

Maintenance work to replace bridge deck beams on the M6 Loups Fell Bridge adjacent to Junction 38, Tebay, is to start on January 29.

The work, which will take five weeks, will involve replacing the central beam of the bridge deck.

Both carriageways will be reduced to two lanes while the work is in progress with a speed limit of 50mph.

At weekends there will also be occasional overnight restrictions when the carriageway will be reduced to hardshoulder running only.