The A66 is both a nationally important road, linking Penrith in
Cumbria with Scotch Corner in North Yorkshire and a key regional
route. It is a hugely important route for freight traffic across
the United Kingdom and as the main link to the Lake District and
North Pennines to the East of England.
Upgrading the A66 route will provide enormous benefits to people
living locally but will also change the way people travel round
the UK, improving connections from Scotland to the east coast of
England and Belfast’s port traffic, via Stranrear, onwards to
ports including Hull and Felixstowe.
Highways England is now developing plans to fully dual the
remaining single carriageway sections of the A66, which total 18
miles of the 50 mile route and this is the first opportunity for
members of the public to get involved.
Transport Secretary said:
We are investing a record £13 billion to improve journeys
across the North of England.
Dualling the A66 will not only mean drivers’ journeys are
quicker, safer and more reliable across the Pennines, but is
part of our pledge to ensure that the business opportunities of
the Northern Powerhouse spread out from the great cities of the
North of England to every city, town and rural community from
the Midlands to the Scottish Lowlands.
Highways England chief executive Jim O’Sullivan said:
The A66 connects businesses, communities and families across
the north of England, and this highly anticipated upgrade is
great news for the local, and regional economies and will
improve the national road network.
We’re pleased to be going out to the local community to consult
on the options for the scheme. I would like to thank all our
local partners who have supported us to get the project to this
stage and I would encourage everyone with an interest in the
scheme to get involved with this consultation.
Today’s consultation launch sets out the ideas for each of the
remaining section of single carriageway. They include:
- Allowing through traffic from the M6 or the north east to
bypass congested Kemplay Bank Roundabout
- Dualling the existing three mile section between Penrith and
Temple Sowerby including a new junction arrangement for Center
Parcs at the western end and an optional short bypass to avoid
High Barn at the eastern end
- A new bypass north or south of Kirkby Thore and north of
Crackenthorpe - following the route of the old railway line or
the old Roman road
- Providing an upgrade of the five mile single carriageway
between Appleby and Brough - freeing up the existing A66 for
local access-only traffic as well as walkers, cyclists and horse
riders
- Re-designing and improving the junction with the A67 at Bowes
to allow full westbound and eastbound access and exit to and from
a newly dualled 1.9 mile section of the single carriageway
- Dualling the existing road between Cross Lane and Rookley
with options for a short bypass of St Mary’s Church and Old
Rectory at the eastern end of the 1.8 mile section
- Similarly, dualling the existing four mile section between
Stephen Bank and Carkin Moor but with three different options,
including short bypasses - for the eastern end
The consultation will also offer opportunities to find out
details about how each option will balance local access needs
with the needs of trans-Pennine traffic, while also catering for
slow moving vehicles such as farm traffic, walkers, cyclists and
horse riders.
Transport for the North’s Major Roads Director, Peter Molyneux,
said:
We welcome the launch of this consultation on options for
dualling the remaining sections of the single carriageway of
the A66, linking the M6 and the A1(M). This will improve
east/west connectivity on this vitally important route, which
will enable economic growth and improved opportunities across
the north.
More information about the project, including consultation events
and a sign-up link for regular email updates, is available on
our A66 Northern Trans-Pennine
scheme page.
