Proposed A66 Dual Carriageway Project

Consultation has been conducted by Highways England with adjacent communities on the proposals to upgrade the A66 to dual carriageway along its full length from Penrith to Scotch Corner. Details of the major project to upgrade all remaining single carriageway sections of the A66 to dual carriageway are available by connecting to the project website here:

https://highwaysengland.co.uk/projects/a66-northern-trans-pennine/

During 2021 National Highways (previously Highways England) published their Preferred Route Announcement, providing details of the likely final routes to be used for upgrade of the six remaining sections of single carriageway to dual carriageway. During the spring of 2022 this was finalised and submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in the form of a Development Consent Order (DCO).

Following the Planning Inspectorate’s acceptance of the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project Development Consent Order (DCO) application, communities were invited to get involved in the examination of the application if they wish.  
A ‘Section 56’ notice, has been issued, which provides information on how individuals or communities can make relevant representations to the Planning Inspectorate. 

A 'fly-through' visualisation of the proposed layout of the local road section (Stephen Bank to Carkin Moor), can be viewed by clicking on this link:

https://youtu.be/ZQubd9eFMUY

Latest position

The Secretary of State for Transport approved the project in March 2024.

However a Legal Challenge to the project has been lodged by a campaign group - Transport Action Network. The preliminary hearing will be in the High Court on 23rd October 2024. This will determine the next phase and timings for the project.

Simultaneously the new government is conducting a review of national transport and infrastructure projects. It is not yet clear when this will be completed. This may, of course, impact on the A66 project.

Rishi Sunak MP has again met with our local A66 campaign group and has told us that he is seeking to obtain full support for the project from all MPs representing constituencies affected by the project in order to continue to lobby for the project to go ahead.