Cumberland Council said it remained committed to improvements to an A66 junction in the west of the county.
Planned improvements to the Brigham and Broughton junction were cancelled in April 2023 by National Highways.
Plans for a new roundabout on the A66 were shelved because it would not be value for money and it was unable to identify alternative, cheaper solutions.
People in the villages, near Cockermouth, have been campaigning for years to replace the existing staggered junction with a roundabout.
Following a strategic meeting of the authority’s Highways and Transport Board Strategic, the council said it was still disappointed by that decision as there were still safety concerns at the junctions.
It warned that the issues were likely to be made worse thanks to the progression of the A66 project between Scotch Corner and Penrith.
The scheme, once delivered, is expected to increase traffic volumes through the junction, it said and that reinforced the need for something to be done.
Despite the setback in 2023, Cumberland Council said it had continued to press the case for improvements to the A66 within Cumberland to National Highways and the Department for Transport.
National Highways confirmed that the Brigham/Broughton junction improvement was not currently included in the Road Investment Strategy programme, which runs until 2031.
However, the council said it had identified funding to advance the project to detailed design stage.
Work is now underway with National Highways to secure all relevant technical information needed to support this next phase of development, it added.
The council said that the introduction of the Cumbria Combined Authority, which will be led by a mayor, in spring this year, will be a significant change in local governance.
The new authority will become the sole Local Transport Authority for the area.
Plus, the Department for Transport is introducing a consolidated funding structure, including the Integrated Transport Fund, Bus Services Fund, and, once a mayor is in place, a Mayoral Transport Fund.
Cumberland Council said it would offer greater flexibility across transport modes and will help support long-term investment priorities such as the A66.
Cllr Denise Rollo, Executive Member for Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places, said: “Cumberland Council has shown real determination in keeping this vital scheme moving forward, and I want to commend the team for the proactive steps they are taking.
“The Brigham/Broughton junction is a clear priority for local residents, and the council’s commitment to progressing the design work demonstrates a strong focus on safety, connectivity and long term investment.
“I will continue to work closely with our partners to ensure this improvement remains firmly on the agenda, for the benefit of communities and businesses across Cumberland.”
Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer, said: “This is really proactive news and a huge thanks to Denise, who has had the foresight to help this project take one step further towards fruition.”
