Major safety improvements along a key northern trans-Pennine route are to move to an important new phase.
Highways England will carry out vital resurfacing and road reconstruction on several sections of the A66 to create safer, smoother journeys for drivers.
The work, between Cockermouth and Brough, is part of a £7.5 million investment in the route, keeping road users safe and supporting freight in the movement of essential supplies and services.
Both sides of the road east of Cockermouth require full-depth resurfacing between Westray to Embleton.
The work on this section will start in September and to complete the job safely there will be six consecutive full weekend closures, with signed diversions in place.
Between Flusco and Dacre, west of Penrith, the westbound carriageway will be resurfaced from September to November.
This requires a 30mph speed limit through the roadworks and temporary contraflow, which means traffic is moved from its usual side of the road to share the other half of the carriageway with vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.
“These vital repairs are part of our commitment to making the A66 safer and more dependable for drivers,” said Highways England project manager Paul Clark.
“We have planned the Flusco to Dacre and Westray to Embleton schemes to take place outside the school holidays to minimise disruption as traffic increases on the A66 during the summer break.”
Other works include resurfacing at Warcop which will begin in the new year, with drainage repairs, new road studs and markings also planned. Work to replace white lining and road studs at Brough will also start in 2022.
Meanwhile, work to resurface more than three-and-a-half miles of road at Appleby bypass continues to make good progress and should be completed in November.
“The scale of the work being carried out means there will be some overlap, however we will strive to keep disruption to a minimum,” said Mr Clark.
