Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has met with the Roads Minister to make the case for the A66 upgrade to go ahead.
The proposals, which would dual the rest of the stretch of road between Penrith and Scotch Corner, were put on hold by the Labour Government earlier this year.
Mr Farron, who represents Westmorland & Lonsdale, and former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is MP for the neighbouring Richmond & Northallerton, met with minister Lillian Greenwood.
The minister said that no final decision would be made until the Government’s Spending Review in the spring.
After the meeting, Mr Farron said: “I’m very grateful to the minister for meeting with us and hearing the case for why this vital upgrade to the A66 must go ahead.
“She was very sympathetic to our arguments, but she was also very clear that she wouldn’t be able to make a commitment on this until the Spending Review.
“This is a shovel ready project which will boost our tourism economy, reduce congestion in our rural communities, and most importantly, save lives.
“I will be keeping up as much pressure as possible between now and the Spending Review so that this project goes ahead.”
