The government said that it will ‘provide an update on plans next year’ for the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine dualling scheme, says the Northern Echo.

The project, which will see the final single-carriageway stretches of the A66 dualled between Scotch Corner and Penrith, was given the green light in July this year in a major infrastructure announcement. The decision marked the end of years of uncertainty, political lobbying and legal wrangling.

Campaigners and local MPs hailed the approval as a “pivotal moment” for communities across North Yorkshire, County Durham and Cumbria, where residents and businesses have long called for safety improvements and better connectivity.

When complete, the 50-mile corridor will provide a continuous dual carriageway between the M6 and A1(M), reducing journey times by up to 12 minutes and offering greater reliability.

DfT told the Northern Echo that it is working with National Highways on a timeline for the scheme.

A DfT spokesperson said: “The upcoming A66 Northern Trans-Pennine scheme will strengthen road safety, cut journey times and support business and freight across the North.”

(Picture: National Highways)