Drivers have been faced with an extra hour on their journeys after roadworks have caused traffic to be diverted down several routes in County Durham. 

According to roadwork maps on Highways England, motorists are facing an extra 40 miles added to their journeys, due to fibre telecom works in Mickleton, County Durham. 

Drivers face 40 mile diversion in County Durham roadworks:

The works, carried out by Go Fibre, began on Monday (October 14), with the roadwork closure in place between 8am and 6pm until Friday (October 18). 

As a result of the closure, drivers are having to be diverted around Romaldkirk, Barnard Castle and Bowes - which is around 40 miles. 

Information about the closure says: "The maximum duration of the temporary closure under this notice is five consecutive days (including weekends), commencing from Monday, 14 October 2024, between 8AM and 6pmPM daily. The anticipated period of closure is 5 days.

"Throughout the period of closure, an alternative route to traffic during the works will be available in a south-westerly direction on B6276 towards Brough, then south on New Road, then east on A66 towards Bowes, then east on A67 towards Barnard Castle, and finally north-west on B6277 Lartington Lane/Spout Bank to the north-western end of the closure, and vice versa."

It's understood that the closure relates to a new full-fibre broadband network for hard-to-reach homes and businesses.


GoFibre, who was awarded the £ 6.6 million contract in 2022, commenced construction of the broadband network last April after a six-month period of surveying and planning with Durham County Council and the government’s executive agency Building Digital UK (BDUK).

Construction of the network in Teesdale will continue until 2025 as GoFibre makes its way across the area. Once complete, more than 4,000 local residents and businesses will be able to access gigabit-capable broadband.

The full diversion route is available here.

*These diversions are in place during the time of writing on October 16, and drivers should check all diversions and routes - including if there is faster routes available*.