Next week communities along the route of the A66 will be able to
find out the latest update on the project when new videos, web
chats and brochures about the major upgrade go live.
All remaining single carriageway sections - totalling 18 miles -
of the A66 between Penrith and Scotch Corner will be dualled in
the £1 billion plans
Meanwhile, since the summer teams of designers have been looking
at the road and its junctions to determine what improvement are
needed. Environmental specialists have also been carrying out
surveys to gain a greater understanding of the ecology and
heritage in the area. And this winter ground investigation
surveys will take place to look at the ground and soil
conditions.
With Highways England on track to get the ball rolling next
spring on the planning process for the transformation of the A66
between Penrith and Scotch Corner, now is a great time for
residents to find out more about what work has been taking place
over the last few months, and what’s next.
Senior project manager Matt Townsend said:
We have been working hard over the summer and autumn, prepping
for consultation in spring next year. We are committed to
building on the positive relationships we have with communities
that live along the route.
In normal circumstances, we would organise local events and
update local communities face to face. That’s not possible
right now due to the current pandemic and we are therefore
having to do things differently.
We know that local people are keen to understand the junction
designs and layouts better and find out how they can access and
travel along the A66. We are therefore providing a full project
update online from next Monday where people can view plans,
watch videos and read our update.
The new brochure will go ‘live’ at
www.highwaysengland.co.uk/A66-NTP on 16 November alongside a new
‘What’s next?’ video setting out next steps for the project
before the public consultation.
Anyone who is unable to go online to get the latest information
is being advised to contact the project team on 0333 090 1192.
The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project is the biggest ever
investment in a single road project in the north and will
transform cross-country journeys – supporting Northern Powerhouse
aspirations for better, less-congested connections and economic
prosperity and sustainability.
Plans to dual the remaining 18 miles of the 50-mile road were
unveiled in May. The transformation includes new bypasses,
dualling alongside existing sections of road and major junction
improvements.
As well as benefiting local people, the upgrade will support
tourism and freight traffic, improving connections between ports
in Scotland and Northern Ireland and those in England at Hull and
Felixstowe. Pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders will also
benefit from safer, better-connected facilities.
